Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) Supporting Post-Quantum Cryptography

ABSTRACT

A device and a network can authenticate using a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI). The device can store (i) a plaintext subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) for the device, (ii) a network static public key, and (iii) a key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) for encryption using the network static public key. The network can store (i) a device database with the SUPI, (ii) a network static private key, and (iii) the KEM for decryption using the network static private key. The device can (i) combine a random number with the SUPI as input into the KEM to generate a ciphertext as the SUCI, and (ii) transmit the ciphertext/SUCI to the network. The network can (i) decrypt the ciphertext using the KEM to read the SUPI, (iii) select a key K from the device database using the SUPI, and (iv) conduct an Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) with the selected key K.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 63/046,169 filed Jun. 30, 2020, which is herewith incorporated byreference into the present application.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present systems and methods relate to devices and wireless networksusing concealed subscription identifiers in order to conductauthentication and key agreement, and more particularly to using keysand algorithms supporting post-quantum cryptography in order to improveefficiency, increase flexibility, and enhance security of subsequentcommunications based on the concealed subscription identifiers.

Description of Related Art

5G standalone networks have introduced the commercial use of a“Subscriber Concealed Identifier” (SUCI), where the long-term permanentidentifier for the subscriber or device, such as the traditional“International Mobile Subscriber Identity” (IMSI) is not transmitted asplaintext but rather as ciphertext. The solution used by 5G networks asof June 2020 is described in “Annex C: Protection schemes for concealingthe subscription permanent identifier” with the document “ETSI TS 133501 V15.4.0 (2019 May)” titled “5G; Security architecture and proceduresfor 5G System”, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety and also referred to herein as “Annex C of ETSI TS 133 501”.The transmission of a ciphertext value for a user or device identitycreates challenges, since key material for authentication normally needsto be selected based upon an identity for a device.

The security of using a SUCI and the related encryption schemes definedby current 5G standards depends on the security of elliptic curvecryptography (ECC), and specifically elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman keyexchanges (ECDH). A device generating a SUCI uses a long-term, staticpublic key associated with a wireless network. However, long-term,static ECC public keys are at a significant risk of being “broken” overthe coming decade by quantum computers, such that a private key could bedetermined based on the public key. Devices deployed over the next fewyears using 5G technology may remain operational for more than a decade.As one example, millions of 2G devices and SIM cards deployed more thana decade ago are currently still used worldwide. Consequently a needexists in the art for security and encryption protocols to remain securefor more than a decade, when quantum computing may feasibly breaktraditional or classical PKI algorithms and key exchanges. A need existsin the art for a device and network to use a SUCI in a manner thatsupports post-quantum cryptography, instead of the traditional ECCalgorithms specified for a SUCI with current 5G standards.

Although the use of ECC algorithms are included in many differentprotocols and standards, quantum computers are expected to be able tosolve the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem (for ECC algorithms)in polynomial time, while classical computers solve the problem inexponential time. As of early 2020, estimates for the number of qubitsrequired to break a 256 bit ECC public key to determine the private keywith a reasonable computation time are approximately 2000-4000 qubits.Industry projections of the number of qubits for operating quantumcomputers shows this number of qubits could be available for a computingdevice in approximately 5 to 10 years and likely within 15 years.Consequently, a need exists in the art for the generation and use of aSUCI by a device and a network that is resistant to quantum computers. Aneed exists in the art for both the device and the network to supportpost-quantum cryptographic algorithms in order to keep both the SUCI andalso the subscriber permanent identifier secured against quantumcomputers.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currentlyconducting a project for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)Standardization. The field of post-quantum cryptography continues todevelop with proposed algorithms currently undergoing revisions forstandardization as of May 2020. In general, the leading candidates forpost-quantum cryptography key exchange or “key encapsulation mechanisms”(KEM) propose using lattice, multivariate, or code-based, algorithms.These proposed algorithms are described by the Wikipedia article for“Post-Quantum Cryptography” dated Apr. 7, 2020, which is herebyincorporated by reference. MST supported standards for quantum-safecryptographic algorithms are expected to be published around 2024. Aneed exists in the art for a SUCI to be secured with industry standardcryptographic algorithms, such as at least one of the proposedcandidates from Round 2 of the NIST PQC.

Although Round 2 of the NIST PQC project proposes multiple algorithmsbelieved or expected to be “quantum safe” slight adjustments or changesto the algorithms may be required in order to efficiently use thealgorithms with a SUPI in order to generate a SUCI. As one example, theKEM have been designed to expect that a shared secret, such as a 256 bitrandom number, would be encrypted with a public key. A shared secretsuch as for a session between a device and a server would normally betemporary and periodically change. However, for a device the SUPI forencryption into a SUCI may remain relatively constant for the lifetimeof the device, which could reduce security of the SUCI usingconventional technology PQC asymmetric encryption to encrypt deviceidentities. In other words, simply encrypting a SUPI into a SUCI usingPQC asymmetric encryption would result in the same SUCI value, whichmeans the device could be tracked. Consequently, a need exists in theart for a device and a network to use PQC algorithms in a manner thatsupports the secure encryption of the SUPI without allowing thirdparties to track the device generating the SUCI from the SUPI. A needexists in the art for the device to generate the SUCI from the SUPI in amanner that prevents “leaking” information to a third party (e.g. otherthan device or the network) which could observe the SUCI transmittedover the air via wireless networks.

Other networking technologies and protocols for secure transmission ofdata through the Internet can benefit from encryption of an identity fora device sending data through Internet (or intranet) to a server on anetwork. In general, a device and a server that desire to implement asymmetric ciphering algorithms such as the advanced encryption standard(AES) need to agree on a commonly shared secret key for encryption anddecryption. Most secure systems for device security rely on separatedevices using separate shared secret keys (e.g. keys that are unique perdevice). In order for a server to select the correct shared secret keyfor decryption for the correct device, the server should be able toidentify the device. But, the device transmitting an identity in theclear reduces security since activities for the device could then betracked. That condition and situation is essentially the same problemaddressed by 3GPP with the introduction of the SUCI for 5G networks(instead of transmitting IMSI with 3G and 4G networks). A need exists inthe art for devices to securely transmit their identity (or a keyidentity for symmetric encryption) over packet switched networks andsupporting post-quantum cryptography, such that a server receiving theidentity can select the proper shared secret for symmetric cipheringwith the device.

Commercial wireless networks based on 4G and 5G standards as of June2020 implement security using shared secret keys, such as a pre-sharedsecret key K or Ki, with a length of 128 bits. The resulting cipheringalgorithms have a corresponding security level of approximately 128bits. Quantum computers can reduce the security of symmetric cipheringalgorithms with 128 bit keys to approximately 64 bits. Consequently,study and potential plans are being evaluated by ETSI for the migrationfrom 128 bit keys to 258 bit long keys for the shared secret keys. Thismigration can create a significant challenge for both devices andnetworks to support the migration, where some networks and devices mayonly support 128 bit keys, while other devices and network may supportand prefer the use of 256 bit long keys. One problem created byestablished standards is the shared secret key K is uniquely bound to asubscription identity such as an IMSI.

Thus, with conventional technology a device would have to use a firstIMSI with a first key K of 128 bits length and a second IMSI with asecond key K with 256 bits length (since the IMSI is uniquely bound tothe shared secret key). A need exists in the art for devices andnetworks to support devices using a single device identifier, such as anIMSI or a user name within a NAI, where the device can use either (i) afirst key K of 128 bits or (ii) a second key K of 256 bits. A needexists in the art for the device and network to use an identifier foreither key, such that the key with the key length supported by thenetwork could be specified by one of the device or the network. A needexists in the art for the identifier of different shared secret keys(such as either the 128 or 256 bit long keys) to be securelycommunicated between the device and the network. A need existing in theart such that the identifier of the shared secret key is not transmittedas plaintext in the clear over wireless networks, such that listeningdevices to unencrypted messages could track a device based on theidentity of a shared secret key transmitted as plaintext.

The rapid growth for connecting intelligent sensors or small “Internetof Things” devices to 5G networks creates challenges for traditional AKAauthentication based on pre-shared secret keys and identities such asIMSI. A primary challenge is pre-configuring the devices with both anIMSI and the pre-shared secret key for the network. 5G standards haveincluded the use of EAP-AKA authentication and security (identified asAKA′ in 5G standards), traditional AKA with pre-shared secret keys, andalso support for EAP-TLS authentication and security. The optimalselection of an authentication protocol by the network can depends onthe secure receipt of data from the device, in addition to a deviceidentifier, in order to determine the preferred authentication protocol.A need exists in the art for the device to securely transmit device datasupporting PQC algorithms before the network selects an authenticationprotocol. A need exists in the art for the network to use the secureddevice data, such as a device certificate or device configuration, inorder to select an authentication protocol. A need exists in the art fora network to select an authentication scheme (e.g. AKA, AKA′, orEAP-TLS) for the device based on encrypted plaintext data transmittedalong with a SUCI.

Many other examples exist as well for needs in the art for devices andwireless networks to mutually authenticate using subscriber concealedidentifiers (SUCI) in a manner secured against quantum computers, andthe above are examples are just a few and intended to be illustrativeinstead of limiting.

SUMMARY

Methods and systems are provided for a device, a mobile network operator(MNO), and a network to establish secure communications based onconcealed subscription identifiers transmitted from the device to awireless network. A system can include a plurality of devices, a mobilenetwork operator, a network, and a device provider. The device canrecord a subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI), a shared secret key K,an identity for the shared secret key K, a post-quantum cryptography(PQC) encryption algorithm or key exchange mechanism (KEM), a devicecertificate, a network static public key for the PQC algorithm, MNOparameters, and cryptographic algorithms and cryptographic parametersused with PQC algorithms and also symmetric ciphering. The subscriberpermanent identifier can comprise a network access identifier (NAI)supporting IETF RFC 7542, where the NAI can include a user name and arealm. The user name can comprise an IMSI in exemplary embodiments. Therealm can comprise at least a portion with a network identity. Thedevice can operate a tamper resistant element (TRE) that can include aprimary platform (PP). The device can record keys and identities andcryptographic data within a device database. The device database couldbe stored within the TRE and PP.

The device can be a computing device for connecting with wirelessnetworks such as a 5G network or a Wi-Fi network and the device caninclude a radio. The device can include a processor, memory, a userinterface, and a bus connecting the components within an enclosure. Thedevice could comprise a radio module within a larger device, such as aradio module within an automobile, industrial equipment, a mobilehandset such as a smart phone, and other possibilities exist as well forphysical embodiments of the device. The device can use PQC algorithmsand at least the network static public key in order to convert a SUPIinto a SUCI, using either (i) asymmetric encryption of at least the username, or (ii) the KEM to derive a mutually shared secret key and thenencrypt at least the user name into a ciphertext for the SUCI using themutually shared secret key. A device could also encrypt additional datapertaining to the device when generating the SUCI, such as encrypting anidentity for a shared secret key K or a certificate for the device.

The mobile network operator can comprise a wireless network withgeographically distributed radios and antennas in order to wirelesslyconnect with the plurality of devices. The MNO can include a MNOidentity in order to uniquely identify the MNO, such as including amobile country code and a mobile network code. The MNO can transmitbroadcast messages to the device before the device transmits a SUCI tothe MNO. The broadcast messages can include MNO parameters, where thedevice can use the MNO parameters in the generation of the SUCI. Thedevice can use the MNO parameters broadcast to select the additionaldata encrypted by the device along with the SUCI for transmission backto the MNO. The MNO can receive messages from the device through awireless network and forward the messages to the network. The MNO canreceive messages from the network and forward the messages to the devicethrough the wireless network. The MNO can establish a secure sessionthrough an IP network with the network.

The network can include a plurality of servers operating in a coordinatemanner to support communications with a device. The plurality of serversfor the network can comprise a server system. The network can include anauthentication server function (AUSF) and a network database. Thenetwork can include an identity comprising the network identity in atleast a portion of a realm for the device subscriber permanentidentifier. The network can operate a network database storing data forthe plurality of devices. The network can record or store a networkstatic private key for the network static public key, the subscriberpermanent identifier, the shared secret key K for the device, anidentity for the shared secret key K, a post-quantum cryptography (PQC)decryption algorithm or key exchange mechanism (KEM) using the networkstatic private key, and cryptographic algorithms and cryptographicparameters used with at least the PQC cryptographic algorithms.

The network can use the PQC algorithms in order to convert a SUCI into aSUPI, using either (i) asymmetric decryption of at least the user namefor the device, or (ii) the KEM with the device to derive a mutuallyshared secret key and then decrypt at least the device user name into aplaintext value for the SUPI. A server could also decrypt additionaldata pertaining to the device when generating the SUPI, such asdecrypting an identity for a shared secret key K or a certificate forthe device.

After decryption of the SUCI and also any associated device data, suchas an identity for the shared secret key K or the certificate for thedevice, the network can use the SUPI and associated device data toselect and conduct subsequent authentication and key agreement protocolsteps with the device. The network can conduct any of AKA protocols(such as traditional 5G AKA), EAP-AKA protocols (identified as AKA′ in5G standards), or an EAP-TLS authentication with the device through theMNO. The network can operate the network database for storing dataassociated with each of the plurality of different devices connectingwith the network through the MNO.

These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detaileddescription, with reference where appropriate to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to thefollowing drawings, wherein like numerals denote like entities.

FIG. 1a is a graphical illustration of an exemplary system, where adevice communicates data with a mobile network operator and a network inorder to mutually authenticate and secure communications with thenetwork, in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 1b is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps using PKI keys,parameters, and data input for (i) a device to encrypt a ciphertext withthe device identity and (ii) a network to decrypt the ciphertext, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 1c is an illustration of a device database and a network databasewith exemplary data stored or recorded, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 2 is a simplified message flow diagram illustrating an exemplarysystem with exemplary data sent and received by a device, a mobilenetwork operator, and a network, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for a device to (i)store multiple shared secret keys associated with device identity, (ii)select a shared secret key to conduct and AKA protocol, and (iii)encrypt an identity of the selected shared secret key, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps using PKI keys,parameters, and data input for (i) a device to encrypt a ciphertext withthe device identity and (ii) a network to decrypt the ciphertext, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified message flow diagram illustrating an exemplarysystem with exemplary data sent and received by a device, a mobilenetwork operator, and a network, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1a

FIG. 1a is a graphical illustration of an exemplary system, where adevice communicates data with a mobile network operator and a network inorder to mutually authenticate and secure communications with thenetwork, in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The system 100 caninclude a device 101, a mobile network operator 102, a network 103, anda device provider 104. The depicted nodes or entities can communicatedata 106 over an Internet Protocol (IP) network 107. Although a singledevice 101, a single mobile network operator 102, a single network 103,and a single device provider 104 are depicted in FIG. 1, a system 100can comprise a plurality of each of the depicted nodes or entities. Asystem 100 as depicted in FIG. 1 can support either (i) anAuthentication and Key Agreement (AKA) protocol such as, but not limitedto, the AKA protocol specified for 5G wireless networks in TS 133 501V15.1.0, or (ii) EAP-TLS authentication for wireless WAN networks, suchas supporting EAP-TLS authentication as described in Annex B of TS 133501 V15.1.0. Other wireless networking technologies and authenticationprotocols for device 101 and MNO 102 could be supported as well.

Device 101 and mobile network operator 102 can utilize a variety ofwireless wide area network (WAN) and wireless local area network (LAN)wireless and technologies to communicate data 106 between the nodes,including Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology, 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) technology such as, but not limited to, 3G,4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), or 4G LTE Advanced, NarrowBand-Internet ofThings (NB-IoT), LTE Cat M, and 5G or subsequent wireless technologies.In addition, the wireless technology used by device 101 and mobilenetwork operator 102 could support or implement wireless LANtechnologies such as WiFi and the related series of standards from IEEE802.11 standards, such as 802.11ac, 802.11 ax, etc. Other examples existas well for wireless WAN technology and/or wireless LAN technology usedby device 101 and mobile network operator 102 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Mobile network operator 102 and network 103 can connect to the IPnetwork 107 and communicate with each other via a wired connection suchas, but not limited to, an Ethernet connection, or a fiber opticconnection. In other words, mobile network operator 102 can connect to(i) device 101 through wireless technology and (ii) a network 103 usingwired technology. IP network 107 could also be a public or privatenetwork supporting Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards suchas, but not limited to, such as, RFC 786 (User Datagram Protocol), RFC793 (Transmission Control Protocol), and related protocols includingIPv6 or IPv4. A public IP network 107 could utilize globally routable IPaddresses. A private IP network overlayed on IP network 107 couldutilize private IP addresses which could also be referred to as anIntranet. Other possibilities for IP Network 107 and a private networkbetween mobile network operator 102, network 103, and device provider104 exist as well without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Mobile network operator (MNO) 102 can include a plurality ofradio-frequency (RF) access technologies (RAT) systems for supportingwireless communications with a plurality of devices 101 in a networkedmanner, including through the use of geographically dispersed antennas,radio nodes, or towers. The RAT systems for MNO 102 can include a radio102 r for communicating with device 101, where radio 102 r includes anantenna system and can operate through licensed radio spectrum. Inexemplary embodiments, MNO 102 can operate a plurality of radios 102 rwhich are connected to an IP network 107 in a secure manner, includingconnecting via a private IP network.

In exemplary embodiments, mobile network operator 102 can comprisetraditional public land mobile networks providing data and voiceservices such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc, and provide datacommunications services through a variety of radio access technologies.Further, although FIG. 1a depicts an MNO 102 as communicating withdevice 101 with a radio 102 r, another entity besides a mobile networkoperator could perform the function of MNO 102. For embodiments whereradio 101 r for device 101 uses WiFi technology, then MNO 102 couldcomprise an entity other than a PLMN, such as a service or network thatoperates a plurality of WiFi access points. The function of MNO 102could also be conducted by a large enterprise with a collection ofgeographically distributed WiFi access points.

Each of mobile network operator (MNO) 102 and network 103 could operatea plurality of servers in order to support the communications andconnectivity depicted in FIG. 1a and additional Figures below. Theexemplary data structures, values or numbers, and steps for a MNO 102and network 103 in FIG. 1a and additional Figures below could berecorded and/or conducted by a collection of servers for each entity.Exemplary servers for a mobile network operator 102 and network 103 insystem 100 can be either different physical computers such asrack-mounted servers, or different logical or virtual servers orinstances operating in a “cloud” configuration.

An exemplary server or collection of servers for MNO 102 can comprise aSecurity Anchor Function (SEAF) 102 b, where a MNO 102 can include atleast one SEAF 102 b for establishing secure and authenticatedcommunications with device 101 through at least one radio 102 r. TheSEAF 102 b could comprise and operate according to the EuropeanTechnical Standards Institute (ETSI) standard TS 133 501 V15.1.0 fromAugust of 2018 and titled “5G; Security architecture and procedures for5G System”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.In exemplary embodiments, the SEAF 102 b for MNO 102 can receive keyssuch as an anchor key from network 103 in order to establish secure andauthenticated communication with device 101. MNO 102 could receive thekeys from network 103 after network 103 conducts authentication and keyagreement with device 101. In exemplary embodiments where ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) in a system100, then SEAF 102 b could operate as specified in section 6.1.1.2 of TS133 501 V15.1.0, where “the SEAF takes the role of pass-throughauthenticator.”

Note that MNO 102 could use other wireless networking technologiesbesides 5G. Thus, although an SEAF 102 b is depicted in FIG. 1a , adifferent collection of servers or an entity besides a SEAF 102 b couldperform the steps for a MNO 102 depicted in FIG. 2 below, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In general, thefunction of an SEAF 102 b as depicted and described in connection withFIG. 2 below could be conducted by at least one server or processoperating within a cloud computing environment, where the server orprocess may not be an SEAF 102 b. For example, the server or processoperating with equivalent functionality as an SEAF 102 b in FIG. 2 belowcould (i) receive a partially encrypted Network Access Identifier (NAI)such as a SUCI 101 b from device 101 with an encrypted user name and aplaintext realm for the NAI, and (ii) use the plaintext realm to forwardthe SUCI 101 b to network 103, where network 103 uses or is associatedwith at least a portion of the plaintext realm.

MNO 102 can include a MNO identity 102 a, where MNO identity 102 a cancomprise the combination of a mobile country code and a mobile networkcode, according to 3GPP standards for 4G networks, 5G networks, etc. Asone example, MNO identity 102 a for an example network of AT&T couldcomprise an MCC number of 310 and a MNC number of 410, such that the MNOidentity 102 a can be 310410. Note that a MNO 102 can operate withmultiple MNO identities 102 a, and a MNO identity 102 a could alsocomprise a Domain Name Service (DNS) name such as an exemplary value of“att.net”, and other possibilities exist for a MNO identity 102 awithout departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition,a MNO 102 could operate with a plurality of MNO identities 102 a.

MNO 102 can include a plurality of processors 102 p in order to storeand record data as well as communicate within a system 100 over an IPnetwork 107 and a radio 102 r. Processor 102 p can comprise a generalpurpose processor appropriate for the computational requirements for aMNO 102, and may operate with multiple different processor cores,including field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). A processor 102 p cancomprise exemplary ARM® based processors or an Intel® based processorsuch as belonging to the XEON® family of processors, and otherpossibilities exist as well. Processor 102 p can utilize a data bus tofetch instructions from memory or storage within a server and operate onthe instruction. A processor 102 p can include components such asregisters, accumulators, and logic elements to add, subtract, multiply,and divide numerical values and record the results in memory. Inexemplary embodiments, at least one processor 102 p within MNO 102 canbe used with an SEAF 102 b to conduct the steps for MNO 102 andsend/receive messages for MNO 102 as depicted and described inconnection with FIG. 2 below. Although not depicted in FIG. 1, MNO 102can include memory and at least one database in order to establishcommunications with a plurality of devices 101 through a plurality ofradios 102 r.

Device 101 can be a computing device for sending and receiving datausing a radio 101 r. Device 101 can take several different embodiments,such as a general purpose personal computer, a mobile phone or mobilehandset based on the Android® or Fuchsia from Google® or the IOSoperating system from Apple®, a tablet, a device with a sensor oractuator for the “Internet of Things”, a module for “machine to machine”communications, a device that connects to a wireless Wide Area Network(WAN) operated by MNO 102, a router, and/or a server, and otherpossibilities exist as well for the embodiments of a device 101 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The electrical components within device 101 can include a memory 101 m,a processor 101 p, a radio 101 r, a sensory 101 y, an actuator 101 z,and a user interface 101 w. As depicted in FIG. 1a , a data bus 101 t ora system bus 101 t could internally electrically connect the depictedcomponents within a device 101. Additional components to support theoperation of device 101 can include a battery to store electrical power,and an antenna to transmit and receive RF signals. The sensor 101 y cancollect data external or internal to the device 101, such astemperature, motion, position, pressure, etc. A device 101 could alsoinclude the actuator 101 z to convert electrical signals into physicalactions, such as a motor for moving components, a relay for opening orclosing a circuit, a speaker for outputting sound, etc.

Memory 101 m can comprise combinations of (i) volatile random accessmemory and nonvolatile memory. The volatile memory can include randomaccess memory (RAM) for relatively fast read and write operationscompared to nonvolatile memory, such as SRAM or DRAM. RAM for memory 101m could also include persistent RAM or nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), suchthat data in a persistent RANI memory or nonvolatile RAM is stored whenpower is removed. Nonvolatile memory can include storage memory such asa flash memory and record or store data when power is removed fromdevice 101. In general, different forms and electrical components formemory 101 m can be used without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Processor 101 p can comprise a central processing unit (CPU)or a “system on a chip” and be similar to a processor 102 p for a MNO102 described above, but with reduced capabilities for a device 101compared to a processor 102 p for MNO.

Tamper resistant element (TRE) 113 can comprise a tamper resistantelement as described in the GSMA PP Requirements document, titled “iUICCPOC Group Primary Platform requirements”, Release 1.0 dated May 17,2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety (“GSMAPP Requirements”). TRE 113 can also comprise the secure element asdescribed in the ETSI SSP Requirements document ETSI TS 103 465 V15.0.0(2019 May) titled “Smart Cards; Smart Secure Platform (SSP);Requirements Specification” (“ETSI SSP Requirements”), which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. Tamper resistant element 113can comprise a silicon enclave within a tamper resistant chip such as a“system on chip” operating within processor 101 p. In addition,processor 102 p for a MNO 102 and processor 103 p for network 103 caninclude a TRE and primary platform 109.

TRE 113 can include a primary platform (PP) 109, where a primaryplatform is also described in both the GSMA PP Requirements document andthe SSP Requirements document. TRE 113 could also comprise a “SmartSecure Platform” (SSP) as described in the SSP Requirements document,such as the SSP depicted in FIG. 2 of the “Architecture” section 9.2.1.Primary platform 109 can comprise a secure operating environment, asecure enclave, a secure element, and include a dedicated processingcore within a processor for device 101. Primary platform 109 can alsooperate in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) within a processor fordevice 101. Primary platform 109 can also comprise a SSP as contemplatedby ETSI documents and draft specifications for 5G networks.

TRE 113 and PP 109 can support a variety of applications. TRE 113 cancomprise the physical device such as that depicted in FIG. 1a , and aprimary platform 109 can comprise a secure processing environmentoperating within the TRE 113. With appropriate configured secondaryplatform bundle, TRE 113 and PP 101 could operate as an “integrateduniversal integrated circuit card” (iUICC), an “embedded universalintegrated circuit card” (eUICC), a secure element for bankingapplications or payments from mobile phones, an radio-frequency identity(RFID) card, a secure bootstrap environment for device 101, a virtualkey for cars or door locks, an secure environment for recording anidentity and secret or private keys for drivers licenses, passports,online or web-site access, etc.

In exemplary embodiments, the steps conducted by device 101 to convert aSUPI 101 a into a SUCI 101 b are conducted by a secondary platformbundle operating within a primary platform that operates on the physicalhost of a TRE 113. The exemplary memory 101 m can be stored within theTRE 113. For these embodiments, the TRE 113 can function as a SIM cardor eUICC and the authentication steps such as those depicted in FIG. 1aand FIG. 1b by the device can be conducted by the TRE 113.

Other applications for firmware operating in TRE 113 and PP 109 in orderto encrypt an identity are possible as well, without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. In general, cryptographic keys andcryptographic algorithms and parameters could be stored in PP 109 inorder to securely support applications such as device programs operatingon device 101. In this manner, an insecure device program also operatingon device 101 would not feasibly be able to ready the cryptographic keysor use the cryptographic algorithms stored in PP 109.

Device 101 may include radio 101 r support radio-frequency (RF)communications with networks including a MNO 102 via standards such asGSM, UMTS, mobile WiMax, CDMA, LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G, and/or othermobile-network technologies. In a wireless configuration, the radio 101r may also provide connectivity to local networks such as 802.11 WLAN,Bluetooth, Zigbee, or an IEEE 802.15.4 network, among otherpossibilities. In exemplary embodiments, a radio 101 r is connected toan antenna, which could be either internal to device 101 or external todevice 101.

Note that device 101 may also optionally include user interface 101 wwhich may include one or more devices for receiving inputs and/or one ormore devices for conveying outputs. User interfaces are known in the artand thus user interfaces are not described in detail here. Userinterface 101 w could comprise a touch screen if device 101 operates asa smartphone or mobile phone. Device 101 can optionally omit a userinterface 101 w, since no user input may be required for many M2Mapplications such as networked sensors, although a user interface 101 wcould be included with device 101. LED lights or a display of LEDs couldalso comprise a user interface 101 w.

Device 101 can include a device identity comprising a subscriberpermanent identity (SUPI) 101 a. The device identity can comprise astring or number to uniquely identify device 101 with MNO 102 andnetwork 103, and potentially other nodes connected to the IP network107. A device identity of a SUPI 101 a can include a network accessidentifier (NAI) according to IETF RFC 7542, titled “The Network AccessIdentifier”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.A NAI can consist of different portions, such as a user identity, and arealm. The user identity can comprise a number or a string to uniquelyidentify device 101 within a realm. A NAI for a SUPI 101 a can have manyforms, and with several examples for a NAI are included in RFC 7542.Other possibilities exist as well for a NAI as a SUPI 101 a for anidentity of device 101 without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The use of a SUPI 101 a in an NAI format as a device identityfor device 101 is not required for some exemplary embodiments, and forsome embodiments the SUPI 101 a could be a single string with anembedded user identity and realm but without the “@” character standardfor a NAI.

As depicted in FIG. 1a , in exemplary embodiments, a SUPI 101 a can havea user identity and a realm (depicted as “network 103 a”), where therealm can have a prefix and a suffix. The prefix and the suffix can havemultiple portions or more than one portion. In general, (i) a realmsuffix can include a base string of a domain name associated with anetwork 103 (depicted as “network” for SUPI 101 a in FIG. 1a ), and (ii)a realm prefix can include a second string associated with a deviceprovider 104. In exemplary embodiments, the realm prefix can include atleast a portion of a network identity 103 a. Note that a realm couldalso include data or a name for MNO 102, which could include a MNO ID102 a, such as using the MNO ID 102 a in a prefix for the realm. Otherembodiments of a SUPI 101 a for a device 101 than that depicted in FIG.1a could include exemplary values of “user@network.provider” (e.g. aprefix first portion of the realm includes a name for the network 103and a suffix second portion of the realm includes a name for the deviceprovider).

In preferred embodiments, a device 101 with a user identity of “XXXXX”could have be associated with a device provider with the name “Company”,where the company has a commercial agreement and technical agreementwith a cloud service such as Amazon Web Services to operate theauthentication server function (AUSF) 103 b, such that devices 101 forthe company (e.g. a device provider) could roam and/or be authenticatedwith a plurality of mobile network operators. The cloud service couldhave commercial and technical agreements with a plurality of mobilenetwork operators, including MNO 102 depicted in FIG. 1. The cloudservice could have an exemplary network ID 103 a of aws.com. For thisexemplary embodiment described in this paragraph, the SUPI 101 a fordevice 101 could comprise an example string of “XXXXX@company.aws.com”.Note that an identity of MNO 102 such as MNO ID 102 a may not need to beincluded in SUPI 101 a, and MNO 102 can select network 103 based on thesuffix of the realm (e.g. aws.com). In another embodiment, the MNO 102identity could be included in the realm, where the MNO ID 102 a could be“att.com”, and the SUPI 101 a for device 101 could be“XXXXX@company.aws.att.com”. Other possibilities exist as well withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Although not depicted in FIG. 1a , a NM as a SUPI 101 a could comprise astring where realm has an identity of the network 103 a in the prefixand an identity of a device provider in the suffix. Or, the realm couldcomprise a single base string that is unique for a combination of anidentity of a device provider and network 103 a (such as a realm of“company-aws.com”). Further, in some exemplary embodiments, the realm ofa NAI for SUPI 101 a could omit an identity for a device provider andconsist only of an identity for network 103 of network ID 103 a. Ingeneral, the realm of a SUPI 101 a can include sufficient identifyinginformation (such as at least a portion of network ID 103 a in order fordata within a message from device 101 to be (i) received by MNO 102 andforwarded to network 103.

A device 101 can also include a subscriber concealed identity (SUCI) 101b. SUCI 101 b can include an encrypted identity of a user name or useridentity, depicted as “{user}” in FIG. 1a and the plaintext realm, whereexemplary formats or contents of a realm were depicted and described inthe two paragraphs above. With conventional technology, such as in AnnexC of ETSI TS 133 501, a SUCI 101 b can be derived from a SUPI 101 ausing an elliptic curve integrated encryption scheme. In exemplaryembodiments, device 101 communicates with a MNO 102 using a SUCI 101 bas the identity for device 101 instead of the SUPI 101 a, in order forthe user identity of device 101 to be encrypted. Note that withconventional technology for a SUCI 101 b, the SUCI 101 b issymmetrically encrypted with a shared secret key that is mutuallyderived by the device 101 and the network 103 using the ECIES.

With the technology depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1bbelow and also FIG. 2, the device can asymmetrically encrypt at leastthe user portion of the NAI in a SUPI 101 a (or alternatively an IMSIfor the device) with a public key. In some embodiments, the realmportion of the NAI in a SUCI 101 b can remain plaintext, such thatwireless network 102 can read the plaintext realm for the SUCI 101 b inorder to select and forward the SUCI 101 b to a network 103 and/ordevice provider 104. With the technology depicted an described inconnection with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below, the device can conduct a PQCKEM with the network 103 in order to derive a shared secret key and thenencrypt at least the user portion of the NAI using the shared secretkey.

In summary, conventional technology for converting a SUPI 101 a into aSUCI 101 b comprises (i) storing a device identity a network staticpublic key, (ii) deriving an device ephemeral PKI key pair, (iii)conducting a key exchange with the device ephemeral private key andnetwork static public key to derive a shared secret, (iv) using theshared secret to derive a symmetric ciphering key, and (v) symmetricallyencrypting at least the device identity portion of the SUPI 101 a into aSUCI 101 b.

With the technology supporting post-quantum cryptography and asymmetricciphering, the different steps in FIGS. 1b and 2 below for the presentdisclosure can convert a SUPI 101 a into a SUCI 101 b using differentsteps. The different steps can (1) storing an identity a network staticPQC public key, (2) combining the device identity with a variable, and(3) asymmetrically encrypting the device identity and the variable withthe network static PQC public key. Note the fewer steps required for thepresent invention to convert a SUPI 101 a into a SUCI 101 b, as well asthe benefits of remaining secure when ECC algorithms can be broken byquantum computers. Additional details for the steps 1-3 will bedescribed below, such as within FIG. 1b . Note that cryptographicalgorithms 101 s and PKI keys for device 101 can support post-quantumcryptography (PQC) and support code-based, lattice-based, and relatedcryptographic algorithms. Example possible algorithms for parameters indevice certificate cert.device 101 c include those described in“Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization” from Wikipedia dated Mar.12, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Although “user” is the term depicted in FIG. 1 and also for a NAI in RFC7542 and related 3GPP specifications, the “user” portion of a NAI cancomprise a string of digits or numbers or characters to uniquelyidentify device 101 for a network 103 and the “user” portion of a NAIwithin a SUPI 101 a or SUCI 101 b does not need to be associated with auser such as a person. In other words, a “user” within an identifiersuch as a NAI or a SUPI 101 a can be an identity for a device. Theplaintext for the realm in a SUCI 101 b can be required in order for MNO102 and/or network 103 to route data for a SUCI 101 b forward (e.g. MNO102->network 103). MNO 102 could use a first plaintext prefix withnetwork ID 103 a in the realm to select a network 103. In other words,in exemplary embodiments, the realm portion of a NAI for a SUCI 101 bcan remain plaintext, although the “user” portion of a NAI for a SUCI101 b can be encrypted.

The “user” 101 u portion of a NAI for a SUPI 101 a could comprise amedium access control (MAC) address for a physical interface such asEthernet or WiFi, an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) orinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) with 2G/3G/4G networks,and other possibilities exist as well for the user portion of a NAI as aSUPI 101 a without departing from the scope of the present invention. Inexemplary embodiments, SUPI 101 a can be written to hardware in device101 and operate as a globally unique, long-term identity for device 101.Note that a device 101 could use several different SUPI 101 a, such as afirst SUPI 101 a with a first network 103 and a second SUPI 101 a with asecond network 103, where the realm portion can be different for thefirst and second SUPI 101 a and the different realm portions can includedifferent network IDs 103 a.

A device 101 can record and use at least one device secret key K.device101 d (e.g. “secret key”). The secret key K.device 101 d can comprise apseudo-random number used by both device 101 and network 103 (or MNO102) in order to conduct authentication and key agreement, such as a 5GAKA or AKA′ protocol. The secret key K.device 101 d could be equivalentto the key K used with 4G networks and recorded in SIM cards, or the keyKi within 5G networks. The secret key K.device 101 d could also bereferred to as a shared secret key, since the secret key is sharedbetween network 103 and device 101. The network 103 would normally storethe key K or K.device 101 d within a secure area of network 103, whichcould be part of the UDM function depicted for network 103 in FIG. 1 a.

As depicted in FIG. 1a , the secret key K.device 101 k can be associatedwith an identity ID.K.Device 101 i, which could comprise a string ornumber to identify the secret key K.device 101 k for device 101. Inother words, a device with an identity of a SUPI 101 a may use aplurality of secret keys K.device 101 k over time (such as usingdifferent key lengths or supporting different protocols such as AKA orAKA′), and the selection or use of the specific secret key K.device 101k could be specified using an identity for the key of ID.K.device 101 i.A table or list of values stored within a TRE 113 of device 101 couldinclude a first list of secret keys K.device 101 k and a second list ofcorresponding identities for the keys of ID.K.device 101 i. A devicecould store a device database 101 d as depicted in FIG. 1c to store thedifferent values of shared secret keys K.device 101 k and identities forthe keys of ID.K.device 101 i. Both network 103 and device 101 couldrefer to the specific secret key K.device 101 k to use based on theidentity for the key of ID.K.device 101 i. In some exemplaryembodiments, the identity for the key of ID.K.device 101 i can comprisea secure hash value over the secret key K.device 101 k, such as usingthe RIPEMD-160 secure has algorithm over the secret key K.device 101 k.In exemplary embodiments, the length of the secret key K.device 101 kcan be either 128 or 256 bits, although other possibilities exist aswell without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Device 101 can store or record a network static public key for thenetwork of PK-ENC.Network 101 e in order to conduct asymmetricencryption 101 j of at least the user name portion (e.g. device name oridentity) of the SUPI 101 a, where the user name 101 u portion for aSUPI 101 a is described above. The network static public key can beassociated with a set of cryptographic parameters ENC.Parameters 101 ffor using the network static public key 101 e, and the cryptographicparameters could be used with asymmetric encryption 101 j function. Theasymmetric encryption 101 j function can also be referred to as a publickey encryption.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ENC parameters 101 f could specify theselection of Kyber-512 for approximately 128 bit of security withsymmetric encryption, or Kyber-768 for approximately 192 bits ofsecurity with symmetric encryption, or Kyber-1024 for approximately 256bits of security with symmetric encryption. Other post-quantumcryptographic algorithms and parameters could be supported as well. Thevalue of PK-ENC.Network 101 e could be written to memory 101 m duringmanufacturing or distribution or configuration of device 101, such asduring a step 203 a or step 203 b in FIG. 2 below. Note thatPK-ENC.Network 101 e can comprise multiple different or separate publickeys, such that different values of PK-ENC.Network 101 e can be selecteddepending on the parameters ENC.Parameters 101 f used by asymmetricencryption function 101 j. In other words, PK-ENC.Network 101 e caninclude a first public key for Kyber-768, a second public key forKyber-1024, where the selection of the first public key or second publickey could be based on ENC.Parameters 101 f.

MNO parameters 101 g can include a list of numbers or strings for valuessuch as (i) allowed frequencies or frequency bands to scan, (ii)preferred access lists for roaming onto other wireless networks, (iii)criteria for a device 101 to select MNO 102, including in idle mode,(iv) support for emergency services, (v) supported languages orcharacter encoding, (vi) codes to search for in beacons broadcast by awireless network 102, (vii) parameters for a radio 101 r to use whenconnecting to a wireless network 102, (viii) names or addresses for aserver associated with a MNO 102 in order for a device 101 to conductradio resource connect procedures, etc. A device 101 can record multiplesets of MNO parameters 101 g for a plurality of different MNO 102, and adevice 101 could select a MNO 102 from a plurality of available MNO 102for radio 101 r based on data within MNO parameters 101 g.

Device 101 can include an encryption function 101 j in order to converta SUPI 101 a into a SUCI 101 b. The encryption function 101 j for device101 and corresponding decryption function 103 j for network 103 are alsodepicted and described in connection with FIG. 1b below. Although theencryption function 101 j is described above as an asymmetric encryptionfunction 101 j, in some embodiments the function 101 j for the device101 and the corresponding function 103 j for the network 103 cancomprise a key exchange mechanism (KEM), such as depicted and describedin connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 below.

Cryptographic algorithms 101 s can include the steps and logic forprocessor 101 p in device 101 to conduct in order for device 101 tosecurely communicate with MNO 102 and network 103. Cryptographicalgorithms 101 s can include at least symmetric ciphering algorithms, arandom number generator, a key pair generation algorithm, digitalsignature algorithms, asymmetric ciphering algorithms, and key exchangealgorithms. Cryptographic algorithms 101 s can use libraries availablefrom example cryptographic suites such as OpenSSL, crypto++,BouncyCastle, or Mozilla, and other possibilities exist as well withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Cryptographicalgorithms 101 s can use inputs of keys such as public keys, privatekeys, and/or symmetric keys along with cryptographic parameters 101 x inorder to for device 101 to process cryptographic data includingciphertext, key exchanges, and digital signatures.

Cryptographic parameters 101 x can specify values or settings for (i)processing a SUPI 101 a into a SUCI 101 b that supports post-quantumcryptographic algorithms, (ii) mutually deriving a shared secret, (iii)mutually deriving a symmetric ciphering key from the shared secret, (iv)using a symmetric ciphering algorithm with the symmetric ciphering key,and (v) using a digital signature algorithm. As contemplated herein,cryptographic parameters 101 x may also be referred to as parameters 101x. Each of device 101, MNO 102, and network 103 and device provider 104can record at least one compatible subset of parameters within a set ofcryptographic parameters 101 x. Parameters 101 x can specify values forkey length, key formatting (e.g. compressed or uncompressed), encodingrules, constants, numbers or variables for a post-quantum cryptographyalgorithm, etc.

Network 103 can comprise a collection of servers and also operate as acloud service. As depicted for system 100 in FIG. 1a , network 103 cancommunicate with device 101 and MNO 102 through IP network 107. Network103 can include a network identity of network ID 103 a, which couldcomprise a domain name, a name, or a string to uniquely identify network103 in a system 100. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion ofnetwork ID 103 a is included in the realm of device identity comprisinga NAI for SUPI 101 a. Network 103 can include at least one server 111 asdepicted in FIG. 1a . Server 111 can include hardware components similarto those of a device 101 depicted in FIG. 1a , except generally withlarger capacities appropriate for a server 111. Server 111 can alsooperate as a host computing environment with physical hardware for avirtual machine to operate as a guest computing environment. In anexemplary embodiment, the AUSF 103 b can comprise a virtual machineoperating on server 111.

A server 111 can include random access memory (RAM) 111 a, storagememory 111 b, at least one system bus 111 c, and at least one networkinterface 111 d. As within a server 111 operating in a network 103,server 111 can include at least one processor 103 p in order to storeand record data as well as communicate with other nodes over an IPnetwork 107, such as with MNO 102 and device provider 104 through an IPnetwork 107. Processor 103 p can also be referred to as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 103 p. Processor 103 p can comprise a generalpurpose processor appropriate for the computational requirements for aserver 101, and may operate with multiple different processor cores,including field programmable gate arrays (FPGA).

A processor 103 p can comprise exemplary ARM® based processors or anIntel® based processor such as belonging to the XEON® family ofprocessors, and other possibilities exist as well. Processor 103 p canutilize the system bus 111 c to fetch instructions from RAM memory 111 aor storage memory 111 b within a server 111 and operate on theinstruction. A processor 103 p can include components such as registers,accumulators, and logic elements to add, subtract, multiply, and dividenumerical values and record the results in memory. In exemplaryembodiments, at least one processor 103 p within server 111 can be usedto conduct the steps and message flows depicted in FIG. 2 below.

RAM 111 a may comprise a random access memory for Server 111. RAM 111 acan be a volatile memory providing rapid read/write memory access toprocessor 103 p. RAM 111 a could be located on a separate integratedcircuit in server 111. The system bus 111 c may be any of several typesof bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of busarchitectures including a data bus. System bus 111 c connects componentswithin server 111, such as transferring electrical signals between thecomponents illustrated for a server 111. Server 111 can include multipledifferent versions of bus 111 c to connect different components,including a first system bus 111 c between CPU 103 p and RANI 111 a(which could be a memory bus), and a second system bus 111 c between CPU103 p and network interface 111 d, which could be a SPI bus, a PCI bus,or similar data busses.

Server 111 may also operate a network interface 111 d, where networkinterface 111 d can be used to connect and communicate with other nodessuch as depicted in FIG. 1 and also FIG. 2 below. Network interface 111d can comprise a physical interface connected to system bus 111 c forserver 111. In exemplary embodiments, network interface 111 d cancomprise an Ethernet or fiber optic wired connection. Network interface111 d can connect server 111 to plurality of computing devices and otherservers through networks such as the globally routable public Internet.

Nonvolatile memory 111 b or “storage” 111 b (which can also be referredto herein as “storage memory 111 b”) within server 111 can comprise anon-volatile memory for long-term storage of data, including times whenserver 111 may be powered off. Storage memory 111 b may be a NAND flashmemory or a NOR flash memory and record firmware for server 111, such asa bootloader program and an operating system. Storage memory 111 b canrecord long-term and non-volatile storage of data or files for server111. In exemplary embodiments, the network identity 103 a is recorded instorage memory 111 b when server 111 is powered off, and the networkidentity 103 a along with a network database 103 d are moved by CPU 103p into RANI 111 a when server 111 powers on.

Storage memory 111 b can operate as a traditional hard disk drive or asolid state drive (SSD), or as a storage area network (SAN). Storagememory 111 b can also comprise a plurality of spinning hard disk drivesin a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration. Storagememory 111 b may also be referred to as “server storage” and can includeexemplary file systems of FAT16, FAT 32, NTFS, ext3, ext4, UDF, orsimilar file systems. As contemplated herein, the terms “memory 111 b”,“storage memory 111 b”, and “nonvolatile memory 111 b” can be consideredequivalent.

Network 103 can include an authentication server function AUSF 103 b asdescribed in ETSI TS 133 501 V15.1.0, as well as subsequent or relatedversions of ETSI standards. In general, an authentication serverfunction can communicate with a security anchor function SEAF 102 b fromMNO 102. AUSF 103 b can receive a SUCI 101 b for device 101 from SEAF102 b, where MNO 102 receives SUCI 101 b from device 101 via a wirelessnetwork and radio 102 r. Additional details for the communication andoperation of AUSF 103 b for network 103 is provided below in FIG. 2 andFIG. 5.

In exemplary embodiments, AUSF 103 b and device 101 can support AKAauthentication, where AKA authentication for device 101 using a wirelessnetwork is described in ETSI TS 133 501 V15.1.0. AUSF 103 b can send andreceive messages with device 101 through MNO 102 and also send andreceive messages with device provider 104 through IP network 107.Network 103 can include at least one processor 103 p, where processor103 p can operate in a similar manner as a processor 102 p describedabove for MNO 102. Processor 103 p could be included in a server 111 andalso within AUSF 103 b. A network 103 can operate with a plurality ofprocessors 103 p and/or servers 111 in order to perform the steps andcommunicate the messages depicted and described for a network 103 inFIG. 2 below.

As depicted in FIG. 1a , a network 103 can also operate a networkdatabase 103 d. A network database 103 d could comprise a collection ofservers and storage memory for storing values associated with aplurality of devices 101 in order to support the operation of a system100. The functions within 5G networks of a Unified Data Management(UDM), and Authentication credential Repository and Processing Function(ARPF) are depicted in FIG. 1a as operating within a network database103 d, but the UDM and/or ARPF could be outside or external to a networkdatabase 103 d and the UDM and/or ARPF could contain a network database103 d. As described by 3GPP and ETSI standards, the Unified DataManagement (UDM) uses the subscription data stored in UDR and implementsthe application logic to perform various functionalities such asauthentication credential generation, user identification, service andsession continuity etc. As described by 3GPP, Authentication credentialRepository and Processing Function (ARPF) keeps the authenticationcredentials. Note that equivalent functionality could be stored innetworks supporting protocols and standards other than 5G, such as adatabase 103 d storing the key K.device 101 k (for a plurality ofdevices) in a secure manner.

A network database 103 d could store values, strings, or numbers fordevice 101 such as a SUCI 101 b received from MNO 102 and a sharedsecret key K.device 101 k for device 101, and other data could be storedin a network database 103 d as well. Data within a network database 103d could be recorded or stored as network 103 receives data for a device101 from a MNO 102 and a device provider. Subsequent communicationsafter receipt of the data from the previous sentence could use a networkdatabase 103 d in order to select stored values for communication withdevice 101. A network database 101 d is also depicted and described inadditional detail below in FIG. 1 c.

Network 103 can store a plurality of device identities comprising SUPI101 a for a plurality of devices 101. The values of SUPI 101 a could berecorded within network database 103 d along with the unique user name101 u portion for each of the devices 101. Note that for a given device101 in a system 100, a user name 101 u may not be globally unique, butthe combination of user name and realm for a SUPI 101 a can be globallyunique in preferred embodiments. Network 103 can also store theconcealed identity SUCI 101 b received from a MNO 102 and originated bydevice 101 in order to conduct an asymmetric decryption step 103 j toconvert the SUCI 101 b into a SUPI 101 a for a device 101. The functionand operation of an asymmetric decryption step 103 j is depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1b below.

Network 103 can store or record at least one private key ofSK-ENC.Network 103 b in order to conduct an asymmetric decryption step103 j of the ciphertext generated by the device asymmetric encryptionstep 101 j, which is described above. The ciphertext could comprise atleast the user name 101 u in a received SUCI 101 b. The plaintext withinciphertext for the user name 101 u can also include a separate number orrandom number as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1bbelow. The private key can be associated with a set of cryptographicparameters ENC Parameters 101 f for using the private key (such asspecified Lattice parameters), and the cryptographic parameters could beused with asymmetric decryption function 103 j. Note that a network 103d could use (i) a first SK-ENC.network 103 b with a first network ID 103a with asymmetric decryption step 103 j and (ii) a second SK-ENC.network103 b with a second network ID 103 a with the asymmetric decryption step103 j, which is also depicted within a network database 103 d in FIG. 3below.

Different devices 101 could include different network 103 a names in theSUCI 101 b, such as a first set of devices using an exemplary value of“company-1” in the realm portion of a SUCI 101 b and a second set ofdevices using an exemplary value of “company-2” in the realm portion ofSUCI 101 b. In exemplary embodiments, the network ID 103 a in the realmportion of a SUCI 101 b can be used to select from network database 103d the SK-ENC.network 103 b for an asymmetric decryption step 103 j, suchthat different devices 101 can use different correspondingPK-ENC.network 101 e for a SUPI/asymmetric encryption function 101 j bythe different devices. The use of network ID 103 a names and differentsecret keys SK-ENC.network 103 b for network 103 is also depicted for anetwork database 103 d in FIG. 1c below.

ENC Parameters 101 f can specify public key encryption and private keydecryption parameters associated with private key SK-ENC.network 103 b.As described above, the device 101 can record a public key correspondingto SK-ENC.network 103 b, where the public key for device 101 cancomprise PK-ENC.network 101 e as depicted in FIG. 1a . The value ofPK-ENC.network 101 e could be generated by network 103 usingSK-ENC.network 103 b and ENC Parameters 101 f. PK-ENC.network 101 ecould provided to device 101 before device 101 sends a SUCI 101 b to MNO102, such as during device manufacturing or device distribution ordevice configuration.

The ENC parameters 101 f as stored by network 103 and device 101 canspecify multiple values and fields necessary for using asymmetricencryption function 101 j (or KEM 101 j″ in FIG. 4 below) and asymmetricdecryption function 103 j (or KEM 103 j″ in FIG. 4 below). Exemplaryvalues for the ENC parameters are depicted within a device 101 in FIG.1a , but the network 103 could store the equivalent ENC parameters 101 fas well. The ENC parameters 101 f can include an identity for a networkstatic public key PK-ENC.network 101 e, where the identity for thenetwork static public key can comprise a value of PK-ENC.Identity 101f-1. The device 101 can select the correct PK-ENC.network 101 e usingthe value of PK-ENC.Identity 101 f-1. For some embodiments, thePK-ENC.Identity 101 f-1 can comprise a secure hash value ofPK-ENC.network 101 e. Network 103 can select which secret keySP-ENC.network 103 b to use based a PK-ENC.Identity 101 f-1 either sentto or received from a device 101.

PK-ENC.Length 101 f-2 can specify a length in bits for usingPK-ENC.network 101 e in order to encrypt a ciphertext (e.g. the size inbits of data that could be encrypted using PK-ENC.network 101 e). Device101 could store a plurality of PK-ENC.network 101 e supporting differentbit lengths, and select a specific PK-ENC.network 101 e to use based onPK-ENC.Length 101 f-2. Or the PK-ENC.Length 101 f-2 can be used toselect the size of a random number or pad to include in a plaintext“data for encryption” 121 in FIG. 1b below. ENC.Algorithm 101 f-3 canspecify which PCQ algorithm to use for functions 101 j and 103 j, suchas Kyber, a multivariate KEM, or a Supersingular Elliptic Curve IsogenyKEM. ENC.Algorithm 101 f-3 could also specify constants, values, orsettings associated with the cryptographic algorithm.

Different values of SK-ENC.network 103 b and corresponding ENCParameters 101 f can be selected by network 103 using (i) at least aportion of network ID 103 a in a realm within a received SUCI 101 b fordevice 101 and (ii) a network database 103 d. SK-ENC.network 103 b cancomprise a first private key for an exemplary lattice-based algorithm ofKyber768. The associated ENC parameters 101 f for the first private keycould be n=256 and q=7681. The parameters that define key and ciphertextcould be set to du=11, dv=3 and dt=11. For Kyber768, the values of kcould be 3 and n could be 4. Other values for ENC parameters 101 f arepossible as well without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. SK-ENC.network 103 b can also comprise a second private keyfor an exemplary lattice-based algorithm of Kyber1024. The associatedENC parameters 101 f could be the same as above, except for the use ofk=4 and n=5. Both PKI keys and parameters could support other PQCalgorithms besides the Kyber family of algorithms.

The PKI keys and parameters could support any of the PKI algorithms fromRound 2 of the MST PQC standardization project where the algorithmssupport public key encryption with a public key for a network 103 storedon a device and then the private key stored in a network 103 to decryptciphertext generated by the device using the public key. Note that thetransmission of a SUCI 101 b by device 101 can also include a specifiedset of ENC parameters 101 f in order to identify parameters or valuesassociated with the ciphertext transmitted by device 101 along with theSUCI 101 b.

Network 103 can include an asymmetric decryption step 103 j in order toconvert a SUCI 101 b into a SUPI 101 a. The decryption function step 103j can comprise the identity decryption scheme as depicted and describedin connection with FIG. 1b below. In summary, network 103 can receivethe SUCI 101 b with a ciphertext that was encrypted by the device usingthe PK.ENC.network 101 e. In exemplary embodiments, the ciphertextincludes at least a device identity or user name 101 u as plaintext thatwas encrypted into the ciphertext. The SUCI 101 b could include ENCparameters 101 f to identify cryptographic parameters and keys fornetwork 103 to decrypt the ciphertext back into the plaintext with atleast the device identity or user name.

Cryptographic algorithms 103 s can include symmetric cipheringalgorithms, a random number generator, a key pair generation algorithm,digital signature algorithms, asymmetric ciphering algorithms, and keyexchange algorithms. Cryptographic algorithms can also include a keyverification step for verifying that a received public key is valid forselected parameters such as cryptographic parameters 101 x and ENCparameters 101 f. Cryptographic algorithms 103 s can use librariesavailable from example cryptographic suites such as OpenSSL, crypto++,BouncyCastle, or Mozilla, and other possibilities exist as well withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Cryptographicalgorithms 103 s can use inputs of keys such as public keys, privatekeys, and/or symmetric keys along with cryptographic parameters 103 x inorder to for network 103 to process cryptographic data includingciphertext, key exchanges, key derivation functions with keys, anddigital signatures.

Cryptographic parameters 103 x can specify values or settings forcryptographic algorithms 103 s. For cryptographic algorithms 103 s thatuse ECC, then cryptographic parameters 103 x could specify curve namesincluding a base point G and constants for an elliptic curve. An exampleof cryptographic parameters could include “Table 1: Parameters proposedto MST for instantiating Kyber KEM” in the PQ-Crystals submission to theMST PQC project. Cryptographic algorithms 103 s for network 103 cancorrespond or be equivalent to cryptographic algorithms 101 s for device101. Note that a server 111 for a network 103 or device provider 104 canstore and operate with cryptographic parameters equivalent to thedepicted cryptographic parameters 103 x.

Network 103 can operate a plurality of servers with at least oneprocessor 103 p. A processor 103 p can comprise a central processingunit (CPU) or a “system on a chip” and be similar to a processor 102 pfor a MNO 102 described above. Network database 103 d can record aplurality of values for a plurality of devices 101 in order for network103 to manage or operate communications with device 101 through anetwork 103.

Device provider 104 can comprise an entity or set of servers formanaging plurality of devices 101. Both device provider 104 and MNO 102could operate a plurality of servers 111. Although depicted in FIG. 1aas “device provider 104”, an entity such as a device owner, a devicemanufacturer, or a device distributor could record the data and performthe functions of a “device provider 104”. In general, a device provider104 can comprise an entity or collection of servers which is the sourcefor providing configuration data to device 101 before device 101connects with MNO 102. The configuration data could comprise theexemplary data within memory 101 m for device 101 as depicted in FIG. 1a. As contemplated herein, a “device provider” may also be referred to asa “provider”.

Although depicted as “device provider” in FIG. 1a , the device provider104 could be a device owner, a device distributor, or a devicemanufacturer. In general, a device provider has a sufficient level ofownership or control of device 101 before device 101 connects with MNO102 such that device provider 104 could record or store the deviceidentity SUPI 101 a, and potentially the key K.device 101 k beforedevice 101 connects with MNO 102. As one example, device provider 104could be responsible for either (i) the insertion of a SIM card with thekey K.device 101 k stored in the SIM card or (ii) the download of aneUICC profile with the key K.device 101 k.

Device provider 104 can include a provider identity of provider ID 104a. Provider ID 104 a can comprise a name or unique identifier, includinga domain name or at least a portion of a realm in a NAI, in order touniquely identify device provider 104 in a system 100, since a system100 could include a plurality of different device providers 104. Atleast a portion of the provider ID 104 a can be included in the SUPI 101a and SUCI 101 b, such as within the realm portion of the SUPI 101 a andSUCI 101 b, which is not depicted in FIG. 1a . In other words, althoughthe realm portion of the SUPI 101 a and SUCI 101 b in FIG. 1a isdepicted as “network 103 a”, the realm portion of the SUPI 101 a couldcomprise “provider 104 a.network 103 a”. Although a single provider ID104 a is depicted in FIG. 1a , a device provider could use a pluralityof different related provider ID 104 a names or identities, such as“company-1”, “company-2”, etc.

Although FIG. 1 depicts MNO 102, network 103, and device provider 104 asseparate nodes or entities, in some exemplary embodiments differententities or function of the nodes could be combined. In one embodiment,a MNO 102 and a network 103 could be combined, such that a MNO 102controls or operates the network 103. In this embodiment, then a MNO 102would operate both a SEAF 102 b and an AUSF 103 b. Or, a network 103could control or operate a MNO 102, such that the network 103 controlsor operates both a SEAF 102 b and an AUSF 103 b. In addition, although aMNO 102 is depicted in FIG. 1a , the wireless networking technologyoperated by MNO 102 with radios 102 r could use WiFi based technology(e.g. based on 802.11 standards) and a collection of geographicallydistributed WiFi access points. The WiFi access points could becontrolled by network 103 and a security anchor function 102 b could beomitted. In another embodiment, the function and operation of a network103 and a device provider 104 could combined, such that either (i)network 103 records the data and operates the function of a deviceprovider 104, or (ii) a device provider 104 operates an AUSF 103 b.Other possibilities exist as well for the combination of the data andfunctions for a MNO 102, network 103, and device provider 104 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1b

FIG. 1b is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps using PKI keys,parameters, and data input for (i) a device to encrypt a ciphertext withthe device identity and (ii) a network to decrypt the ciphertext, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. The processes and operations,described below with respect to all of the logic flow diagrams and flowcharts may include the manipulation of signals by a processor and themaintenance of these signals within data structures resident in one ormore memory storage devices. For the purposes of this discussion, aprocess can be generally conceived to be a sequence of computer-executedsteps leading to a desired result.

These steps usually require physical manipulations of physicalquantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take theform of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of beingstored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. It isconvention for those skilled in the art to refer to representations ofthese signals as bits, bytes, words, information, elements, symbols,characters, numbers, points, data, entries, objects, images, files, orthe like. It should be kept in mind, however, that these and similarterms are associated with appropriate physical quantities for computeroperations, and that these terms are merely conventional labels appliedto physical quantities that exist within and during operation of thecomputer.

It should also be understood that manipulations within the computer areoften referred to in terms such as listing, creating, adding,calculating, comparing, moving, receiving, determining, configuring,identifying, populating, loading, performing, executing, storing etc.that are often associated with manual operations performed by a humanoperator. The operations described herein can be machine operationsperformed in conjunction with various input provided by a human operatoror user that interacts with the device, wherein one function of thedevice can be a computer.

In addition, it should be understood that the programs, processes,methods, etc. described herein are not related or limited to anyparticular computer or apparatus. Rather, various types of generalpurpose machines may be used with the following process in accordancewith the teachings described herein.

The present invention may comprise a computer program or hardware or acombination thereof which embodies the functions described herein andillustrated in the appended flow charts. However, it should be apparentthat there could be many different ways of implementing the invention incomputer programming or hardware design, and the invention should not beconstrued as limited to any one set of computer program instructions.

Further, a skilled programmer would be able to write such a computerprogram or identify the appropriate hardware circuits to implement thedisclosed invention without difficulty based on the flow charts andassociated description in the application text, for example. Therefore,disclosure of a particular set of program code instructions or detailedhardware devices is not considered necessary for an adequateunderstanding of how to make and use the invention. The inventivefunctionality of the claimed computer implemented processes will beexplained in more detail in the following description in conjunctionwith the remaining Figures illustrating other process flows.

Further, certain steps in the processes or process flow described in allof the logic flow diagrams below must naturally precede others for thepresent invention to function as described. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the order of the steps described if suchorder or sequence does not alter the functionality of the presentinvention. That is, it is recognized that some steps may be performedbefore, after, or in parallel other steps without departing from thescope and spirit of the present invention.

The processes, operations, and steps performed by the hardware andsoftware described in this document usually include the manipulation ofsignals by a CPU or remote server and the maintenance of these signalswithin data structures resident in one or more of the local or remotememory storage devices. Such data structures impose a physicalorganization upon the collection of data stored within a memory storagedevice and represent specific electrical or magnetic elements. Thesesymbolic representations are the means used by those skilled in the artof computer programming and computer construction to most effectivelyconvey teachings and discoveries to others skilled in the art.

FIG. 1b depicts exemplary steps for a device to generate or encrypt aciphertext 123 using public key encryption and for a network to processor decrypt the ciphertext 123 in order to read a plaintext value for adevice identity or user name. Device 101 can include a tamper resistantelement 113 with a primary platform 109, where the primary platform 109generates the ciphertext 123 using an asymmetric ciphering algorithm 101j. In some exemplary embodiments, the use of a TRE 113 and PP 109 couldbe omitted, and the generation of a ciphertext 123 by device 101 couldbe performed or conducted within a processor 101 p. The asymmetricencryption step or function 101 j is also depicted as “PQC PKIEncryption 101 j” in FIG. 1b . The step 101 j could comprise public keyencryption using a post-quantum cryptographic algorithm. Note that thepublic key encryption may not use the full key exchange mechanismspecified by some PQC protocols, such as the agreement of a randomshared secret of a value with 256 bits in a KEM as described below inFIG. 4, because the transmission of a value comprising at least thedevice identity or user name within the ciphertext 123 may be preferred.The following example within FIG. 1b will follow the steps for the Kyberalgorithm within the PQ-Crystals project and proposal submitted to NIST,but other and different cryptographic algorithms could be utilized aswell.

For a PQC PKI Encryption step 101 j, device 101 can select and processdata for encryption 121. The data for encryption 121 could comprise themessage portion for the cryptographic algorithm. In some exemplaryembodiments, the message can comprise a value of 256 bits. As depictedin FIG. 1b , data for encryption 121 could comprise a random number 101n generated by device 101, the user name portion of SUPI 101 a (whichcould also be a device identity), an identity for the shared secret keyK used by device 101 of ID.K.Device 101 i (for subsequent AKA steps),and a pad value 121 b. Additional data could be included in the data forencryption 121 as well, as depicted with the value of “ . . . ” in FIG.1 b.

In some exemplary embodiments, the realm portion of network identity 103a can be included in the data for encryption 121, as well as theplaintext realm portion of the SUCI 01 b. In this manner upon adecryption step 103 j by network 103, the plaintext network identity 103a from data for encryption 121 can be compared to the network identity103 a received in the realm portion of the SUCI 103 a to verify thatthat the realm portion 103 a has not been modified after transmission bydevice 101. Note the sequence and structure of data within data forencryption 121 could change, such that the depicted order for theindividual elements is changed or altered, without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

In exemplary embodiments, the total length of the data for encryption121 depicted for (i) random number 101 n, (ii) user name portion of SUPI101 a, (iii) ID.K.Device 101 i, and (iii) pad value 121 b can be anexemplary 256 bits when using the Kyber algorithms, since the messagesize is 256 bits. Other protocols could support message sizes ofdifferent lengths than 256 bits, which could be specified inPK-ENC.Length 101 f-2 parameters. In exemplary embodiments the length ofdata for encryption 121 can be equal to a length specified byPK-ENC.Length 101 f-2 parameters. The length of the pad value 121 b canbe adjusted so that the length of data for encryption 121 matches themessage size specified by the protocol or the length specified inPK-ENC.length 101 f-2. Or, in other embodiments, the length of randomnumber 101 n could be adjusted to have a length in bits such that thelength of the data for encryption 121 (which includes at least the username for SUPI 101 a) matches the PK-ENC.Length 101 f-2 parameters.

The random number 101 n can be generated by device 101 each time a SUCI101 b is generated by device 101. The random number 101 n could be apseudo-random number generated by a processor 101 p. The inclusion of arandom number 101 n within data for encryption 121 can ensure that thedata for encryption 121 or “message” according to the PQC algorithm isunique for each SUCI 101 b. In other words, without a random or changingvalue 101 n, the data for encryption 121 could be constant and then theSUCI 101 b could be constant and consequently a device 101 could betracked within a wireless network since it could use the same SUCI 101 beach time it initially attaches to MNO 102. In addition, although thevalue 101 n is depicted as a “random number”, the value 101 n couldcomprise a number or series of bits that changes for each SUCI 101 bgenerated by device 101. Thus, the value 101 n does not need to be a“random number” and could comprise a number or series of bits that is avariable. The value 101 n could comprise a sequence number.

In an exemplary embodiment, the PQC PKI encryption step 101 j couldfollow the encryption steps specified by the Kyber algorithm. In thepaper “CRYSTALS—Kyber: a CCA-secure module-lattice-based KEM” (referredto herein as Kyber paper), the message “m” can be the data forencryption 121 which is 256 bits in length for this embodiment. The step101 j′ depicted in FIG. 1b can comprise the function/step of“Kyber.CPA.Enc” with the public key PK.ENC.network 101 e. The parametersof ENC.parameters 101 j could be a row from Table 1 of the Kyber papersuch as Kyber768. The output of step 101 j′ and “Kyber.CPA.Enc” can bethe value “c” in the Kyber paper or ciphertext 123 in FIG. 1b . Thelength of “c” and ciphertext 123 can be an exemplary 1152 bytes. Notethat the function Kyber.Encaps may not be used in exemplary embodimentsfor asymmetric encryption of the device user name, since Kyber.Encapswould generate a hash value that could obfuscate the device user name.Thus, in exemplary embodiments, encryption step 101 j and 101 j′ can usethe public key encryption portion of a PQC algorithm and may not use theCCA-secure KEM portion of the PQC algorithm.

A PQC PKI encryption step 101 j could append the ciphertext 123 to theplaintext realm portion of the SUCI 101 b, such as the exemplary networkidentity 103 a as the realm portion of a device NAI. The device couldthen transmit the complete SUCI 101 b comprising the ciphertext 123 froma step 101 j and the realm to network 103 via wireless network 102,which is also depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 below.Note that in some exemplary embodiments where a wireless network 102operates the network 103, then the network identity 103 a in the realmportion of SUCI 101 b could be omitted. For this embodiment, then theSUCI 101 b could comprise only the ciphertext 123. In addition, althoughthe use of a SUCI 101 b is depicted in FIG. 1b , the format andstructure of a SUCI according to ETSI standards is not required, and theciphertext 123 and corresponding message sent from device 101 to network103 could be a message different than the SUCI as defined by ETSI. Inother words, the technology depicted in FIG. 1b can be used to encryptand identity for a device 101 such as, but not limited to, at least auser name in a NAI or a device identity and send the ciphertext 123 to anetwork 103.

A network 103 with the network identity 103 a could use a server 111 toreceive the SUCI 101 b from a wireless network 102. The network 103could operate a Unified Data Management (UDM) 103 d-1 to record PKI keysand process the received SUCI 101 b. A UDM 103 d-1 for network 103 wasalso depicted and described above in connection with FIG. 1a . Thenetwork 103 can operate or process a PQC PKI Decryption function 103 jwhich can convert the ciphertext 123 portion of a SUCI 101 b intoplaintext. The ciphertext 123 can comprise encrypted data for theplaintext data 121 a, which could comprise the message portion. Theplaintext data 121 a was described above for the data to sign 121 andcan include (i) random number 101 n, (ii) user name portion of SUPI 101a, (iii) ID.K.Device 101 d-1, and (iii) pad value 121 b. Additional datacould be in plaintext data 121 a as well, such as the realm portion ofthe SUCI 101 b being in both the ciphertext 123 and as a plaintext realmfor SUCI 101 b.

The network 103 can input the ciphertext 123 into the decryption step103 j′ in order to convert the ciphertext to plaintext. For embodimentsthat use the PC-Crystals algorithms and Kyber, then the decryption step103 j′ can comprise the step “Kyber.CPA.Dec” from the Kyber paper.Decryption step 103 j′ can use the network static secret keySK.ENC.network 103 b to recover the message (e.g. plaintext 121 a of 256bits for this example) with extremely high probability (with errorschanges much less than one in a billion). In other words, although asuccessful decryption step 103 j′ can fail occasionally, the failure canbe rare enough not to have a practical or meaningful affect.

After successful decryption of ciphertext 123, a decryption step 103 j′can conduct a step 122 a to process the plaintext 121 a and readexemplary plaintext values of (i) random number 101 n, (ii) user nameportion of SUPI 101 a, (iii) ID.K.Device 101 i, and (iii) pad value 121b. The plaintext user name 101 u portion of SUPI 101 a can comprise adevice identity such as an IMSI and other possibilities exist as well.The plaintext user name read from a step 103 j can be used to select adevice key K of K.device 101 k and then a subsequent AKA protocol can beconducted between network 103 and device 101 using the selected K.device101 k. Note that the plaintext 121 a from a SUCI 101 b can include avalue of ID.K.device 101 i, which could specify a specific K.device 101k for use with device 101, and network 103 could select the specificK.device 101 k using the ID.K.device 101 i.

Note that for some exemplary embodiments, the inclusion of a user name101 u in a SUCI 101 b could omitted, and simply the identity of theshared secret key ID.K.device 101 i in a ciphertext 123 in FIG. 1b (orequivalently a ciphertext 403 in FIG. 4 below) can be sufficient fordevice 101 and network 103 to mutually agree on a shared secret keyK.device 101 k for conducting an AKA protocol. In other words, for someexemplary embodiments, an identity for device 101 (such as an IMSI or auser name 101 u) within a SUCI 101 b could be omitted, and the onlyrequirement to establish subsequent secure communication between device101 and a network 103 is agreement between the network 103 and thedevice 101 on a shared secret key K.device 101 k. The agreement for theshared secret key K.device 101 k could be established using theID.K.device 101 i as the core identifier for the device in a SUCI 101 b.A separate identifier for the device, such as a user name 101 u, couldbe securely transmitted from the device 101 to the network after orduring the AKA protocol, such as after a message 219 depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below.

FIG. 1c

FIG. 1c is an illustration of a device database and a network databasewith exemplary data stored or recorded, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. A device 101 could store and operate a device database 101d as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1a . Network 103could store and operate a network database 103 d as depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1. The device database 101 d could bestored in a protected memory such as within a TRE/PP 109 as depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1b . A network database 103 d could berecorded in a server 111 or collection of servers securely connected tonetwork 103. A network database 103 d could operate using software suchas Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and other possibilities existfor a database without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. A device database 101 d could operate using flat files,tables stored in memory for TRE/PP 109, SQL lite, and otherpossibilities exist as well. Although the data depicted for a devicedatabase 101 d and network database 103 d is depicted as within a singletable, the data stored could reside in multiple different tables, suchas a first table in network database 103 d storing the columns for SUCI101 b and SUPI 101 a, and a second table in a network database 103 dstoring the columns for SUPI 101 a, K.device 101 k, ID.K.device 101 i,etc.

Although both a device database 101 d and network database 103 d depictmultiple values, strings, or numbers stored in each column and row, somevalues could be omitted at certain points in time, such as the data notbeing available at a point in time, although the omitted data could beprovided or available later. For example, time 0 with a network database103 d could depict the values stored by a network database 103 d beforethe network 103 receives data from a device 101 or a plurality ofdevices 101. Time 0 could represent the data stored by network database103 d upon configuration and setup of the database with configurationdata for devices 101. At time 0, upon receipt of a message 205 below inFIG. 2 with a new SUCI 101 b not previously stored in a network database103 d, network 103 could either update an existing row into a networkdatabase 103 d with the SUCI 101 b received in a message 205, or (ii)insert an entire new row into a network database 103 d and query anotherdatabase or process for additional data pertaining to device 101 thatsent the SUCI 101 b. Both device database 101 d and network database 103d can be encrypted with a symmetric ciphering key such that the data isstored in physical memory such as storage 111 b as ciphertext (fornetwork database 103 d).

Values depicted in FIG. 1c with different numeral designations such as“−1”, “−2”, “−3”, etc. can represent different numbers or strings forthe depicted value such as SUPI 101 a. Values depicted in FIG. 1c withthe same numeral designation such as the first four rows of SUPI 101 ain a network database 103 d being “101 a-1”, then “101 a-1”, then “101a-1”, and then “101 a-1” can represent that the number or string forSUPI 101 a is the same for a first device in the first four rows. Acolumn such as “device” can designate unique devices. Values depicted inFIG. 1c with different numeral designation such as the last three rowsof SUPI 101 a in a network database 103 d being “101 a-2”, then “101a-3”, then “104 a-4” can represent that the number or string for SUPI101 a stored is different for each of the devices in the last threerows. Note the device column, which could be used as an index or valuefor tracking unique devices could also show that the devices in the last3 rows are different.

Device database 101 d can record data for device 101 in order tosecurely communicate with at least one network 103. Initial datarecorded in a device database 101 d can be stored during a configurationstep 203 b, and additional data could be inserted into the devicedatabase 101 d over time. Device database 101 d can include data orvalues for NAI User Name 101 u, Network identity 103 a, shared secretkey K.Device 101 k, the corresponding identity for the shared secret keyof ID.K.Device 101 i, MNO Parameters 102 g, a Device Certificate 101 c,a network static public key PK-ENC Network 103 c, KEM or asymmetricencryption parameters ENC. Parameters 101 f, and a Random number 101 n.Additional data and fields could be stored within a device database aswell.

The user name 101 u can comprise a unique identifier for device 101 andmay be associated with a network 103. The user name 101 u could be anIMSI value, although could comprise another string or number selected bya device owner or device manufacturer or device provider instead of thenetwork 103 or MNO 102. As depicted in FIG. 1c , a device 101 couldstore a plurality of different user names 101 u for use with differentMNO 102 or networks 103. Also note that a device 101 could use differentuser names 101 u with the same network 103, such as the device 101storing both a first user name 101 u-3 and 101 u-4 for a network 103a-4. A user name 101 u was also depicted and described in connectionwith FIG. 1a above. The network identity or name of network ID 103 a wasalso depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1a above.

A device 101 could store or record in a device database a plurality ofdifferent shared secret keys K.device 101 k and associated identitiesfor the shared secret key of ID.K.device 101 i. The different sharedsecret keys K.device 101 k could comprise different numbers and also bepseudo-random numbers. The different shared secret keys K.device 101 kcould use different key lengths such the depicted first shared secretkey K.device 101 k-1 comprising a key with length 128 bits and thedepicted second shared secret key K.device 101 k-2 comprising a key withlength of 256 bits. Note that both the first and second shared secretkeys K.device 101 k-1 and 101 k-2 are associated with the same networkID 103 a and also user name 101 u. As described above, the combinationof network ID 103 a and user name 101 u can comprise a SUPI 101 a. Theselection or use of different keys K.device 101 k-1 or 101 k-2 could bespecified in MNO parameters 102 g′ received by device 101 in a message202 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 below. Otherpossibilities exist as well for different keys K.device 101 k storedwithin a device 101.

The identity of ID.K.device 101 i can comprise a string or numberuniquely associated with each shared secret key K.device 101 k. In thismanner and by using ID.K.device 101 i, both device 101 and network 103can refer to, identify, and communicate information about the K.device101 k by transmitting the ID.K.device 101 i. For some exemplaryembodiments, the ID.K.device 101 i can comprise a secure hash over theK.device 101 k, such as using the secure hash algorithm RIPEMD-160 overthe K.device 101 k. Or, the identity of ID.K.device 101 i can comprise asequence number or pseudo random number that is reasonably uniquelyassociated with or specifies the K.device 101 k.

A device 101 could store or record in a device database a plurality ofdifferent MNO parameters 102 g. The MNO parameters 102 g were alsodepicted and described in connection with FIG. 1a above. MNO parameters102 g can include network codes broadcast by MNO 102 such as a mobilecountry code (MCC) or a mobile network code (MNC), frequencies fordevice 101 to utilize in connecting with MNO 102, settings for a radio101 r of device 101 to use when connecting with MNO 102, and otherpossibilities exist as well. A device 101 could store a plurality ofdifferent device certificates 101 c, where the device certificatecert.device 101 c was also depicted and described in connection withFIG. 1a above. Each of the different device certificates 101 c could usedifferent values for (i) a device identity such as a user name 101 u,(ii) a device static public key, and/or (iii) a different certificateissuer for generating a digital signature for the device certificate 101c.

A device database 101 d could also store a plurality of differentnetwork static public keys PK-ENC.network 101 e. In exemplaryembodiments, the different network static public keys PK-ENC.network 101e can be associated at least with a network identity 103 a, such that afirst network 103 with a first network identity 103 a could use a firstnetwork static public key PK-ENC.network 101 e and a second network 103with a second network identity 103 a could use a second network staticpublic key PK-ENC.network 101 e. Or, some networks could use more than asingle network static public key PK-ENC.network 101 e, such as a firstnetwork 103 with a first network identity 103 a using both a firstnetwork static public key PK-ENC.network 101 e with some devices andsome geographic regions and then a second network static public keyPK-ENC.network 101 e with other devices or different geographic regions.The selection of the first or second network static public key 101 e bythe first network could be specified in the MNO parameters 102 g′transmitted as a broadcast message from MNO 102 in a message 205, andother possibilities exist as well. In some exemplary embodiments, theMNO parameters 102 g′ can include the ENC parameters 101 f for use bydevice 101, and thus device 101 could select a network static public keyPK-ENC.network 101 e based on the ENC parameters 101 f receiving in amessage 202.

A device database 101 d could also store a plurality of differentcryptographic parameters comprising encryption (ENC) parameters 101 f.ENC parameters 101 f can contain values specifying the use ofcryptographic algorithms 101 s, such as bit lengths for keys or output,encoding rules, padding schemes, constants or variable values forequations or math operations in order to conduct cryptographicoperations, etc. ENC parameters 101 f could be used for both asymmetricencryption such as step 101 j′ above in FIG. 1b and also a key exchangemechanism (KEM) in FIG. 4 below. Different network static public keys101 e could be associated with different ENC parameters 101 f. Or, aplurality of different network static public keys 101 e could beassociated with the same ENC parameters 101 f.

As depicted in FIG. 1c , a device database can also store at least onerandom number 101 n for use in communication between device 101 andnetwork 103. The random number 101 could be generated after as step 203b in FIG. 2 below. Different networks 103 or parameters 103 f or usernames 101 u could be associated with different random numbers 101 n. Arandom number 101 n could be used to either (i) generate a key M 401 asdepicted in FIG. 4 below, or (ii) used within a plaintext 121 for aciphertext 123 as depicted in FIG. 1b above.

Several benefits or features of the present disclosure can be providedby the combinations of data stored in a device database 101 d for device101. Some exemplary benefits are depicted with boxes around certain rowsand values, and will be described herein. The first box that includesrow 1 and row 2 depicts the benefits described above for a device withthe same user name 101 u (which could be an IMSI) using two differentshared secret keys K.device 101 k with the same network 103 with networkID 103 a. The selection or preference for the first shared secret keyK.device 101 k-1 or second shared secret key K.device 101 k-2 could bespecified based on MNO parameters 102 g′ transmitted in a broadcastmessage 202 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below. Note that device 101 could both(i) use an identity for the selected shared secret key K.device 101 k-1or 101 k-2 and comprising ID.K.device 101 i-1 or 101 i-2, and (ii) sendthe identity ID.K.device 101 i back to MNO in a message 205 in FIG. 2below or message 501 in FIG. 5 below. In this manner, network 103 candetermine which of the first or second shared secret keys K.device 101k-1 or 101 k-2 to use with a subsequent AKA authentication 223 asdepicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below.

In addition, for some embodiments, such as a device 101 and network 103supporting both 128 bit and 256 bit keys for shared secret key K.device101 k (which could be (i) specified in MNO parameters 102 g′ transmittedby MNO 102 in a message 205 below in FIG. 2, or (ii) stored by device101 in MNO parameters 102 g) then a second shared secret key K.device101 k-2 could comprise a 256 bit key and the first shared secret keyK.device 101 k-1 could comprise a 128 bit key. The first shared secretkey K.device 101 k-1 could be a specified subset of the bits of thesecond shared secret key K.device 101 k-2, such as, but not limited to,any of (i) the first 128 bits of the second shared secret key K.device101 k-2, or (ii) the last 128 bits of the second shared secret keyK.device 101 k-2, or (iii) a specific, selected subset of 128 bits ofthe 256 bits for the second shared secret key K.device 101 k-2.

Further, a 256 bit length key for the second shared secret key ofK.device 101 k-2 could be derived from a first shared secret keyK.device 101 k-1, such as using a secure hash generating at least 256bits such as, but not limited to SHA-256, SHA3-256, etc. from the firstshared secret key K.device 101 k-1. For example, during the transitionof a MNO 102 and network 103 from the use of 128 bits for key length ofshared secret key K.device 101 k to 256 bits for key length of sharedsecret key K.device 101 k, some shared secret keys K.device 101 kalready installed in devices 101 and deployed into use in the field mayonly have a shared secret key K.device 101 k of 128 bits.

In order to support the transition from 128 bits to 256 bits for use ofa shared secret key K.device 101 k for AKA protocols, a network 103could specify via MNO parameters 102 g′ that the device 101 use a secondshared secret key K.device 101 k-2 (such as the depicted K.device 101k-2 for network 103 a-1 in device database 101 d), where the secondshared secret key K.device 101 k-2 is generated by both device 101 andnetwork 103 using a secure hash algorithm resulting in at least 256 bitsover at least the first shared secret key K.device 101 d-1. The securehash algorithm could comprise a hash-based key derivation function(HKDF). The secure hash algorithm could also use or input a mutuallyagreed value between the device 101 and network 103 in addition to thefirst key K.device 101 k-1, such as, but not limited to, the MCC or MNCor network ID 103 a for the network 103 or MNO 102. The mutually agreedvalue between device 101 and network 103 could be transmitted by MNO 102or specified or referred to by MNO 102 in a broadcast message 202 in MNOparameters 102 g′, where MNO parameters 102 g′ are depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below.

The second box in a device database 101 d for device 101 includes row 2and row 3. For the second box, the first user name 101 u-1 can be usedwith both a second shared secret key K.device 101 k-2 and a third secretkey K.device 101 k-3, where (i) the second shared secret key K.device101 k-2 can be used with a first network 103 and network identity 103a-1 and (ii) the third shared secret key K.device 101 k-3 can be usedwith a second network 103 and network identity 103 a-2. Note that if thefirst row is optionally omitted for some embodiments, then (i) thesecond shared secret key K.device 101 k-2 for row 2 can be referred toas a first shared secret key, and third shared secret key K.device 101k-3 can be referred to as a second shared secret key.

This second box highlights advantages and differences of the presentinvention over conventional technology, where a single user name 101 u-1can be used by two different networks with network ID 103 a-1 and 103a-2 in order to conduct an AKA authentication with the two networksusing two different shared secret keys K.device 101 k-2 and 101 k-3.With conventional technology contemplated by 4G and 5G standards as ofJune 2020, a user name 101 u-1 such as an IMSI is uniquely bound to aspecific shared secret key K.device 101 k, and a device using the sameuser name 101 u-1 could not normally conduct an AKA authentication 223(below in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5) with two different networks using the sameIMSI and uniquely bound shared secret key K.device 101 k since the twodifferent networks of 103 a-1 and 103 a-2 would not both record or storethe same shared secret key K.device 101 k.

For this embodiment of the second box covering rows 2 and 3 of devicedatabase 101 d, a device could select and use the different sharedsecret key K.device 101 k-2 with the network 103 a-2 based on thenetwork ID 103 a-2 being within MNO parameters 102 g′ broadcast in amessage 202 below in FIG. 2. For this embodiment, then the use of ashared secret key identity of ID.K.device 101 i associated with theshared secret key K.device 101 k could be optionally omitted becauseboth the network 103 and device 101 would know which shared secret keyK.device 101 k to use for AKA authentication 223 (in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5below) based on the combination of user name 101 u and network ID 103 a.Thus, in some exemplary embodiments the use and transmission of a sharedsecret key identity of ID.K.device 101 i can be omitted. But, for someembodiments such as the embodiment depicted by the first box for device101 in device database 101 d in FIG. 1c the transmission of sharedsecret key identity of ID.K.device 101 i can be required.

Although not depicted with a separate box in FIG. 1c , anotherembodiment of the present invention supports the use of the same secretkey K.device 101 k with two different user names 101 u. As describedabove, the user names 101 u could comprise an IMSI value, although othernames and identifiers for a device 101 could be used as well. Forexample, both the first row and the fourth row depicted a device usingdifferent user names 101 u of 101 u-1 and 101 u-2. The first user name101 u-1 could be used with a first network 103 with network ID of 103a-1, and the second user name 101 u-2 could be used with a secondnetwork 103 and network ID of 103 a-2. Both the first and fourth rowshow device 101 can use the same shared secret key of K.device 101 k-1with (i) the first user name 101 u-1 and the first network ID 103 a-1and (ii) the second user name 101 u-2 and the second network ID 103 a-2.With conventional technology and AKA authentication contemplated by 5Gstandards, a device 101 could not normally be able to use two differentIMSI (e.g. 101 u-1 and 101 u-2) with the same shared secret key K.device101 k-1. Benefits of this depicted embodiment can be that a singleshared secret key K.device 101 k-1 from a single configuration step 203b (in FIG. 2 below) can support AKA authentication with two differentnetworks using two different user names 101 u or IMSI. Separate, securesteps could be conducted to ensure that a first network of 103 a-1 and asecond network of 103 a-2 could shared the shared secret key K.device101 k-1 between the two networks in order for both networks to conductan AKA authentication and protocol step 223 as depicted in FIG. 2 andFIG. 5 below.

In exemplary embodiments, a device 101 could record and use multipledifferent network static public keys PK-ENC.network 103 e with the samenetwork 103 with network identity 103 a. As depicted in FIG. 1c , adevice 101 could (i) use a first PK-ENC.network 103 e-2 with a firstnetwork with network identity 103 a-2 and (ii) use a secondPK-ENC.network 103 e-2 with the first network with network identity 103a-2, as depicted by row 4 and row 5 in FIG. 1c . The selection of thefirst or second PK-ENC.network 103 e could be specified in MNOparameters 102 g′ received in a message 202 below in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5.Or a device 101 could select the first or second PK-ENC.network 103 eand identify or specify the use of the first or second PK-ENC.network103 e in parameters 103 f sent in a message 205 in FIG. 2 below or amessage 501 in FIG. 5 below.

Network database 103 d can record data for a plurality of devices 101which could be managed or supported by a network 103. A network database103 d could store values, numbers, or strings for a time value(illustrated as a sequence in FIG. 1c , but could also comprise a timein UTC or unix epoch time), a device number, Device ID/SUCI 101 b,Device ID/SUPI 101 a, network static public key PK-ENC.Network 101 e, acorresponding network static private key SK-ENC Network 103 b,parameters for the network static public/private key of ENC Parameters101 f, a shared secret key for the device of K.Device 101 k, an identityfor the shared secret key for the device of ID.K.Device 101 i, a SharedSecret M 401, where the generation and use of a share secret key M 401is depicted and described in connection with FIG. 4 below, anauthentication algorithm 101 q, and authentication vectors 103 x.

Device ID/SUCI 101 b can in a network database 101 d can comprise theSUCI 101 b value received from a device 101 in (i) a message 205 andmessage 207 depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 below or(ii) a message 501 and message 502 depicted and described in connectionwith FIG. 5 below. Before the messages mentioned in the previoussentence, a network database 101 d would not normally have the SUCI 101b values to store, such as depicted at time 0.

Device ID/SUPI 101 a can comprise the combination of the user name 101 uand the network ID 103 a for the device, as depicted and described inconnection with FIG. 1a above. The Device ID/SUPI 101 a value can bedetermined from the SUCI 101 b by a network 103 and stored in a networkdatabase 103 d after a step 103 j′ in FIG. 2 below or after a step 404 bin FIG. 5 below. In exemplary embodiments, the SUPI 101 a determinedafter receipt of a SUCI 101 b can match a previously stored SUPI 101 a,such as a SUPI 101 a recorded at an initial time 0 before the device 101sends the SUCI 101 b.

Values for network static public keys PK-ENC.network 101 e, thecorresponding network static private key SK-ENC Network 103 b, andparameters for the network static public/private key of ENC Parameters101 f could be stored at a time 0 before the device 101 sends the SUCI101 b. The PK-ENC.network 101 e and ENC parameters 101 f could betransmitted and stored by a device 101 during a configuration step suchas a step 203 b depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 andFIG. 5 below. A network static public key PK-ENC.network 101 e, thecorresponding network static private key SK-ENC Network 103 b, andparameters for the network static public/private key of ENC Parameters101 f were also depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1a above.

As depicted in FIG. 1c , a network 103 could use multiple differentnetwork static public keys PK-ENC.network 101 e, such as both a firstPK-ENC.network 101 e-1 depicted in the first row and a secondPK-ENC.network 101 e-2 depicted in the second row. A device could alsostore the plurality of different network static public keys 101 e-1 and101 e-2. The first and second network static public keys 101 e-1 and 101e-2 could be associated with the same ENC parameters 101 e-1. A networkcould specify the use of the first or second network static public keys101 e-1 or 101 e-2 in a message 202 in the form of MNO parameters 102 g′as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 below. Or, a devicecould select one of the two network static public keys 101 e andtransmit an identity or value specifying the selected network staticpublic key 101 e in a message 205 in FIG. 2 or message 501 in FIG. 5.Note that more than one device can store the same network static publickey PK-ENC.network 101 e, such device 1 in row 2 storing PK-ENC.network101 e-2 and device 2 in row 5 also storing PK-ENC.network 101 e-2.

As depicted in FIG. 1c , a network 103 could use multiple differentnetwork static public keys with different parameters 101 f for thedifferent network static public keys, which is depicted in the first rowand the fourth row. A first PK.ENC.network 101 e, such as both a firstPK.ENC.network 101 e-1 depicted in the first row could be associatedwith a first set of parameters 101 f-1. A second PK.ENC.network 101 e-3depicted in the fourth row could be associated with a second set ofparameters 101 f-2. A device could also store the plurality of differentcombinations, such as (i) network static public key 101 e-1 with thefirst set of parameters 101 f-1 and (ii) network static public key 101e-2 with the second set of parameters 101 f-2. A network could specifythe use of parameters 101 f-1 or 101 f-2 in a message 202 in the form ofMNO parameters 102 g′ as depicted and described in connection with FIG.2 below. A device could select the first or second network static publickey 101 e-1 or 101 e-2 based on the received specification of parameters101 f-1 or 101 f-2 in the message 202. Or, a device could select one ofthe two parameters 101 f-1 or 101 f-2 and transmit an identity or valuespecifying both (i) the selected parameters 101 f and (ii) a networkstatic public key 101 e in a message 205 in FIG. 2 or message 501 inFIG. 5.

A network database 101 d could store or record a plurality of differentshared secret keys K.device 101 k and associated identities for theshared secret key of ID.K.device 101 i. The different shared secret keysK.device 101 k could comprise different numbers and also bepseudo-random numbers. The different shared secret keys K.device 101 kcould use different key lengths such the depicted first shared secretkey K.device 101 k-1 comprising a key with length 128 bits and thedepicted second shared secret key K.device 101 k-2 comprising a key withlength of 256 bits. Other possibilities exist as well, the first andsecond shared secret keys K.device 101 k-1 and 101 k-2 could bedifferent values.

Note that both the first and second shared secret keys K.device 101 k-1and 101 k-2 as depicted in FIG. 1c are associated with the same SUPI 101a-1 for a first device, as shown by the box in network database 103 dcovering both row 3 and row 4. This box covering both row 3 and row 4highlights difference with conventional technology for 4G and 5G AKAauthentication, since the same SUPI 101 a would not normally beassociated with two separate shared secrete keys K.device 101 a. Theselection or use of the first and second shared secret keys K.device 101k-1 and 101 k-2 for the same SUPI 101 a-1 could be specified through theuse of the ID.K.device 101 i. The device 101 could send the ID.K.device101 i in a message 205 in FIG. 2 below or a message 501 in FIG. 5 below.Or, as described in a step 210 below in FIG. 2, a network 103 couldselect the appropriate K.device 101 k for a device 101 to use by (i)selecting the ID.K.device 101 i, and (ii) sending a message to device101 with the selected ID.K.device 101 i. In this manner, network 103 anddevice 101 can mutually agree on the same shared secret key K.device 101k in order to conduct an AKA authentication and protocol 223 as depictedand described in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below. For someembodiments, such as with the use of an EAP-TLS authentication andprotocol 222 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 andFIG. 5 below, the network 103 could omit storing a shared secret keyK.device 101 k and associated identity of ID.K.device 101 i.

The authentication algorithm 101 q could specify the use of anauthentication algorithms such as the 5G authentication and keyagreement algorithm specified in TS 133 501 v. 15, which is depicted as“AKA”. The authentication algorithm 101 q could specify the use of anauthentication algorithms such as the EAP-AKA′ authentication and keyagreement algorithm (depicted in FIG. 1c as “AKA′”), which is specifiedin IETF RFC 5448. The authentication algorithm 101 q could specify theuse of EAP-TLS authentication, which is specified in IETF RFC 5216. Anauthentication algorithm 101 q could also be referred to herein as anauthentication scheme. Note that a blank for fields or data withinnetwork database 103 d can indicate that no data for the value may beavailable at the time. In addition, the shared secret key K.device 101 kcan comprise a pre-shared secret key, while shared secret M 401 cancomprise a key generated after network 103 receives a SUCI 101 b from adevice 101. In addition, the pre-shared secrete key K.device 101 k canbe securely shared between device 101 and network 103 “out of band”before the communications between device 101 and network 103 depicted inFIG. 2 and FIG. 5 below begin.

A network database 103 d could also store a plurality of authenticationvectors 103 x for a plurality of devices 101. The authentication vectors103 x can be associated with a shared secret key K.device 101 k or thecorresponding ID.K.device 101 i. The authentication vectors 103 x couldcomprise a plurality of data in order to conduct an AKA authenticationwith device 101 using the K.device 101 k, such as a random number, anexpected response (XRES), a cipher key CK, and integrity key IK, asequence number to track the authentication vector 103 x used with theK.device 101 k over time, as well as an authentication token (AUTN). TheXRES can comprise a value generated using the random number and theshared secret key K.device 101 k, such as a MAC code or digitalsignature over the random number with the shared secret key K.device 101k. The authentication token can comprise a digital signature or a MACcode for at least the random number using a network key, where thenetwork key could also be stored by the device 101 in memory 101 m or adevice database 101 d. In exemplary embodiments, data for theauthentication vectors 103 x can support the values and algorithmsspecified for conducting AKA in TS 133 501 v. 15. In exemplaryembodiments, data for the authentication vectors 103 x can support thevalues and algorithms specified for conducting an EAP-AKA′authentication and security protocol. Other possibilities exist as wellfor data within an authentication vector 103 x for conducting an AKAwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Some data within a network database 103 d could be recorded or storedbefore device 101 establishes an initial radio resource connection withMNO 102, such as during device manufacturing or distribution or a deviceconfiguration. Other possibilities exist as well for the time before amessage 205 when data such as values for SUPI 101 b and K.device 101 kin a network database 103 d can be recorded. As additional devices areadded for a network 103, then additional rows for the additional devicescould be inserted into a network database 103 d. As depicted in FIG. 1c, a network database 103 d could store additional data for a device 101than the fields or values depicted. Additional data could include (i) adevice certificate cert.device 101 c, and (ii) a first list ofcryptographic algorithms 101 s and a second list of cryptographicparameters 101 x for a device 101 with SUPI 101 a in a device database104 d, where the first list and the second list could be used todetermine an authentication method to use for device 101 (e.g. proceedwith EAP-TLS authentication for device 101 after receipt of message 205in FIG. 2 below or proceed with AKA authentication for device 101 afterreceipt of message 205). Other possibilities exist as well for datastored or recorded in a device database 104 d without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Although a single network database 103 d is depicted in FIG. 1c , anetwork database 103 d could comprise either multiple databases ormultiple tables with data equivalent or similar to that depicted in FIG.1c . In one exemplary embodiment, a network 103 could operate multiplenetwork databases 103 d, where a first network database 103 d isassociated with a first network 103 and a second network database 103 dis associated with a second network 103, etc. The realm values for a NAIwithin a SUCI or SUPI could include a first value for the networkportion and/or provider portion of the realm for the first network andfirst network database. The realm values for a NAI within a SUCI or SUPIcould include a second value for the network portion and/or providerportion of the realm for the second network and second network database.

The user name in a network database can comprise the user name 101 uportion of a network access identifier (NAI) for a SUPI 101 a. Or, theuser name 101 u for a SUPI 101 a could comprise an IMSI value for adevice 101. The SUPI 101 a stored in a network database 103 d cancomprise the SUPI 101 a as described above for a device 101 in FIG. 1a .Note that the user name 101 u can be plaintext with a SUPI. In addition,a “user name” can comprise an identity for a device 101 and a “username” does not need to be associated with a person. Although notdepicted in FIG. 1c , a device certificate 101 c stored in a networkdatabase 103 d can comprise the device certificate 101 c stored and usedby device 101 as described for a device 101 in FIG. 1a . The format anddata structure of device certificate 101 c in a network database 103 dand device 101 could take many forms such as a *.pem structure, rawtext, *.crt, or *.der. *.crt can comprise a certificate format and *.dercan comprise distinguished encoding rules for the certificate. Othercertificates described herein, including device provider certificate 104c could be stored or transmitted in any of the exemplary formatsdescribed in the previous sentence. Although not depicted in FIG. 1c , anetwork ID 103 a could be stored in a network database 103 d andcomprise the network identity used in the realm portion of a SUCI 101 band SUPI 101 a for a device 101.

FIG. 2

FIG. 2 is a simplified message flow diagram illustrating an exemplarysystem with exemplary data sent and received by a device, a mobilenetwork operator, and a network, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. System 200 can include a device 101, a mobile networkoperator (MNO) 102, and a network 103. The nodes or entities withinsystem 200 were also depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1aabove, where FIG. 2 depicts exemplary steps for the nodes and exemplarymessage flows between the nodes. Although a single device 101, MNO 102,and network 103 are depicted in a system 200, a system 200 could includea plurality of each of the depicted nodes connected via an IP network107. In addition, data recorded for device 101 and network 103 depictedand described above in FIG. 1a can be recorded in the device 101 andnetwork 103 depicted in FIG. 2 before the steps and message flows areconducted in FIG. 2.

In order to support authentication of devices 101 with network 103, aMNO 102 could establish a secure session 201 with network 103. Securesession 201 could comprise establishing a secure communications linkbetween the two servers using protocols such as TLS, IPSec, a virtualprivate network (VPN), a secure shell (SSH), or similar networking,transport, or application layer technologies in order to establishsecure communications between MNO 102 and network 103. Secure session201 can utilize certificates for each of MNO 102 and network 103 inorder to provide mutual authentication and mutual key derivation for asymmetric encryption key in secure session 201. Secure session 201 canalso be conducted over IP network 107, although the secure session 201could also be established or conducted through a private network. Otherpossibilities exist as well for establishing a secure session 201between MNO 102 and network 103 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

At step 203 a, device 101 can be manufactured, configured, anddistributed to an end user. The configuration step 203 a can includesecurely storing data for a device database 101 d, where the exemplarydata is depicted and described above in connection with FIG. 1a and FIG.1c . Some data in a device database 101 d depicted in FIG. 1c could beomitted in a step 203 a, such as omitting the random number 101 n in adevice database 101 d, and the random number 101 n could be generated ata later time or step.

At step 203 b, device 101 can power on and load firmware andconfiguration data in order to connect with wireless network 102. A step203 b can also include firmware or software in device 101 loading a RFmodule or radio 101 r within device with an operating configuration suchas MNO parameters 102 g in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1c (such as frequencies touse, wireless technology to use such as 5G or WiFi 6, etc.). Step 203 bcan include device 101 scanning for available mobile networks 102 andthen selecting a preferred mobile network. In exemplary embodiments,device 101 scans for mobile network identities broadcast in systeminformation blocks, there the mobile network identity such as mobilenetwork ID 102 a matches the value for a mobile network in a realm for aSUPI 101 a recorded by device 101.

Device 101 can receive an MNO identity of MNO ID 102 a and MNOparameters 102 g′ in a message 202. Message 202 could comprise systeminformation blocks (SIB) or equivalent data broadcast in a broadcastcontrol channel or beacon channel or signal from MNO 102 using radio 102r. In other words, the MNO ID 102 a and MNO parameters 102 g′ could beacquired by device 101 without device 101 transmitting data to MNO 102after the power up step 203 b above. MNO parameters 102 g′ couldcomprise a subset of MNO parameters 102 g stored by device 101 in adevice database 101 d. MNO parameters 102 g′ could include a set of ENCparameters 101 f, such that device 101 could use the ENC parameters 101f in order to generate a SUCI 101 b and associated ciphertext, includingciphertext 408 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 below.

Message 202 can also include supported authentication algorithms 101 q,which could consist of a plurality of algorithms 101 q such as thosedepicted and described in connection with FIG. 1c . Or, for someembodiments a value for authentication algorithm 101 q in a message 202could specify a single and selected authentication algorithm 101 qsupported by MNO 102 and network 103. In some exemplary embodiments, anauthentication algorithm 101 q in a message 202 can comprise dataspecifying support for at least (i) 5G AKA authentication andencryption, and (ii) EAP-TLS authentication and encryption by MNO 102and network 103. The selection for use of either (i) 5G AKAauthentication or (ii) EAP-TLS authentication can be conducted by eitherdevice 101 or network 103, such as by a network 103 in a subsequent step212 below.

In an exemplary embodiment, the MNO parameters in a broadcast radiomessage 202 could comprise the exemplary values of MNO parameters 102g-2 stored by device 101 in a device database 101 d. In an exemplaryembodiment MNO parameters 102 g-1 could specify the use of a 128 bit keylength for shared secret K.device 101 k and MNO parameters 102 g-2 couldspecify the use of a 256 bit key length for shared secret K.device 101k, and other possibilities exist as well. Further, MNO parameters 102 g′could specify a value for either PK-ENC.Network 101 e or ENC.Parameters101 f In an exemplary embodiment, MNO parameters 102 g′ can specifyvalues of Kyber-512, Kyber-768, or Kyber-1024 for a key exchangemechanism or asymmetric encryptions. In other words, the MNO parameters102 g′ broadcast by MNO 102 could specify the ENC parameters 101 f foruse with an asymmetric encryption algorithm 101 j for use by a device101 to generate a SUCI 101 b. Device 101 could use the parameters 102 g′broadcast by MNO 102 in order to select the ENC parameters 101 f for usewith an asymmetric encryption algorithm 101 j.

At step 203 c, device 101 can select a SUPI 101 a from a device database101 d to use with MNO 102 based on at least MNO ID 102 a or network ID103 a received in a message 202. At step 203 c, device 101 can select aSUPI 101 a to use based on the combination of MNO ID 102 a and MNOparameters 102 g′ received in a message 202. In other words, device 101could include multiple SUPI 101 a with (i) different user names 101 uand (ii) realms for different networks 103, and search for a MNO 102with an identity 102 a or 103 a in an RF beacon or signal 202 thatmatches a realm for one of the multiple SUPI 101 a. At step 203 c,device 101 can select a SUPI 101 a that supports or matches MNO ID 102a.

For other embodiments, the MNO ID 102 a may not be included in a portionof a realm within a SUPI 101 a in device database 101 d, and a device101 could select the MNO 102 using MNO parameters 102 g′. At theconclusion of a step 203 c, device 101 can select and store a SUPI 101 ato use with a MNO 102. A step 203 c can also include device 101selecting MNO parameters 102 g based on either (i) an observed andavailable MNO 102 for a radio 101 r in device 101, or (ii) MNOparameters 102 g′ received in a message 202. MNO parameters 102 g′ canbe a subset of MNO parameters 102 g stored within device 101 during aconfiguration step 203 a, and device 101 can select the subset ofparameters 102 g (such as and exemplary set 102 g-2 depicted in FIG. 1c) using the received MNO parameters 102 g′ from a message 202. Theselection of a SUPI 101 a for device 101 in a step 203 c can include theselection of a selection of network identity network ID 103 a for arealm of SUPI 101 a. The values for PK-ENC.network 101 e and ENCParameters 101 f can be selected in a step 203 c based on either (i) thenetwork ID 103 a for the SUPI 101 a, or (ii) MNO parameters 102 g′received in message 202.

As one example a SUPI 101 a selected in a step 203 c could comprise anexemplary value of “XXXXX@company.aws.com”, where XXXXX is the user name101 u, “company” is the provider ID 104 a and “aws.com” is the networkID 103 a. As another example for a SUPI 101 a selected in a step 203 c,the SUPI 101 a could comprise a value of YYYYYY@att.net, where “YYYYYY”could comprise an IMSI value and “att.net” is the network ID 103 a.Other possibilities exist as well for a SUPI 101 a selected by a device101 in a step 203 c without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

At step 203 d, device 101 can select a shared secret key K.device 101 kfor use with MNO 102 and/or identity for the shared secret key ofID.K.device 101 i. The selection of a shared secret key K.device 101 kand/or identity for the shared secret key of ID.K.device 101 i can usedata received in a message 202, such as, but not limited to, values foran authentication algorithm 101 q within message 202. As one example, afirst key K.device 101 k could comprise a 128 bit long key and a secondkey K.device 101 k could comprise a 256 bit long key. MNO parameters 102g′ from a message 202 could specify a key length for shared secret keysof an exemplary 256 bits and device 101 could select the K.device 101 kand ID.K.device 101 i with 256 bits from a device database 101 d. Inaddition, device 101 could select the K.device 101 a and ID.K.device 101i using MNO ID 102 a received in a broadcast message 202. In a step 203c, device 101 could use the supported authentication algorithm 101 qfrom a message 202 in order to select a K.device 101 a and ID.K.device101 i. In exemplary embodiments, device 101 in a step 203 d can at leastselect an ID.K.device 101 i from a device database 101 d, where theID.K.device 101 i is associated with a K.device 101 a. The selectedID.K.device 101 i can be sent from device 101 to MNO 102 and network 103in a subsequent message below. Or, for other embodiments a singleK.device 101 a can be associated with a MNO 102 and the use of anID.K.device 101 i could be omitted.

At step 204, device 101 can conduct a radio resource connection (RRC)request with MNO 102 using a radio 101 r and the selected MNO parameters101 g. The RRC can transition a radio 101 r in device 101 from an idlestate to an active state. In the active state, device 101 can transmitmessages or data to MNO 102. At step 121′, device 101 could assemble theplaintext data for encryption 121, which was also described above inFIG. 1b . Prior steps 203 c and 203 d could be utilized to select theplaintext data for encryption 121 in a step 121′. In exemplaryembodiments, the data for encryption 121 includes both (i) the plaintextdevice identity or user name 101 u for device 101 and (ii) a variablethat changes for each SUCI 101 b generated by device 101 (which could bea random number 101 n).

At step 101 j device 101 can conduct the asymmetric encryption function101 j with network static public key PK.ENC.network 101 e and data forencryption 121 in order to generate ciphertext 123 for a SUCI 101 b asdepicted and described in connection with FIG. 1b above. The user name101 u portion of a SUPI 101 a can be input into the asymmetricencryption function 101 j along with network static public key andparameters 101 f in order to output a first portion the SUCI 101 bcomprising at least an encrypted user name 101 u for the device 101. Asdepicted in FIG. 2, a value 204 a can comprise the combination of (i) anencrypted user name 101 u comprising a ciphertext 123 and (ii) theselected network ID 103 a for a realm.

Device 101 can then send the selected MNO 102 through (i) a wirelessnetwork operated by MNO 102 and (ii) the radio resource connection fromstep 203 a message 205, where the message 205 includes the ENCparameters 101 f and the value 204 a. MNO 102 and SEAF 102 b can receivethe message 205 and conduct a step 206 in order to process the message205. At step 206, SEAF 102 b can (i) read the plaintext realm for SUCI101 b in value 204 a, and (ii) select the network 103 using the networkID 103 a in a realm for SUCI 101 b. In a preferred exemplary embodimentas depicted in FIG. 2, the suffix of the realm can comprise the networkID 103 a, but in a second embodiment, the prefix of the realm couldcomprise the network ID 103 a. Or, in a third embodiment the realmportion of a SUCI 101 b from a message 205 can be the network ID 103 a.

Note that MNO 102 and network 103 could have prior commercial andtechnical agreements for MNO 102 to forward device 101 authenticationdata to network 103 and AUSF 103 b. If MNO 102 has no commercialrelationship with network 103, or secure session 201 could not beestablished, or MNO 102 cannot forward the data in message 205, then MNO102 can send device 101 an error message with an error code explainingthe failure. Device 101 could then take corrective steps, such asselecting a different MNO 102 or different network 103 via a differentSUPI 101 a for device 101 in order to send a message 205 to thedifferent MNO 102.

MNO 102 can then send network 103 and AUSF 103 b a message 207 throughsecure session 201, where (i) message 207 includes ENC parameters 101 fand the value 204 a, and (ii) the value 204 a includes SUCI 101 b. TheAUSF 103 b for network 103 can receive the message 207. At step 208, theAUSF 103 b can read and process the plaintext data in the realm for SUCI101 b in value 204 a. As depicted in FIG. 2, for some exemplaryembodiments the realm for SUCI 101 b in a value 204 a can comprise thenetwork ID 103 a. A step 208 can include AUSF 103 b storing SUCI 101 bin a network database 103 d for subsequent use in identifying device101.

Network 103 can then conduct a series of steps in order to process themessage 207. At step 209, network 103 can read the plaintext network ID103 a in SUCI 101 b and use network database 103 d in order to select(i) secret key SK-ENC.network 103 b and (ii) any associated parametersfor ENC parameters 101 f that may be needed for an asymmetric decryptionfunction 103 j. A network 103 can also read the received parameters 101f from a message 207 in a step 209. For some embodiments, a networkidentity 103 a can be uniquely associated with secret key SK-ENC.network103 b and (ii) ENC Parameters 101 f. Or, in some embodiments, theparameters 101 f from messages 205 and 207 can include a value oridentity for a PK-ENC.Network 101 e stored by device 101, and in a step209 network 103 can use a network database 103 d as depicted in FIG. 1cto select the SK-ENC.network 103 b for use in an asymmetric decryptionfunction 103 j.

Network 103 can then conduct a step 103 j′ using asymmetric decryptionfunction 103 j in order to convert the ciphertext 123 portion of SUCI101 b into plaintext. Asymmetric decryption function 103 j was depictedand described in connection with FIG. 1b above. In other words, adecrypted plaintext from ciphertext 123 can include a device user name101 u. Network 103 can securely store a SUPI 101 a for device 101 afterstep 103 j′ by reading the plaintext data for encryption 121 as depictedin FIG. 1b above. Network 103 can also read the full plaintext data 121after a decryption step 123, where the plaintext data 121 was depictedand described in connection with FIG. 1b above. The plaintext data caninclude a random number 101 n, an identity for a shared secret keyID.K.device 101 i, as well as a pad value 121 b. Network 103 could storethe random number 101 n in a network database 103 d for a device 101 andensure that random number 101 n is not reused in order to prevent replayattacks.

Network 103 can conduct a step 210 with the plaintext user name 101 uand ID.K.device 101 i to query a network database 103 d for datapertaining to device 101. Network 103 can use the value of ID.K.device101 i received in ciphertext 123 with a SUCI 101 b to select the sharedsecret K.device 101 k for a subsequent AKA procedure. For someembodiments, the inclusion of an ID.K.device 101 i within a message 205and 207 could be omitted, such as if device 101 and network 103 use andspecify a single shared secret key K.device 101 k for a user name 101 u,and in this case a step 210 could be omitted.

Or, for other exemplary embodiments, the inclusion of an ID.K.device 101i within a message 205 and 207 could be omitted, but (i) both network103 and device 101 could use multiple different shared secret keysK.device 101 k for the same user name 101 u (such as depicted anddescribed for the first box in device database 101 d in FIG. 1c above).For these embodiments and a step 210 (where ID.K.device 101 i wasomitted from a message 205 and 207), then for a step 210 network 103could send device 101 a separate message (not depicted in FIG. 2) toquery or request for the ID.K.device 101 i in order to obtain the sharedsecret key K.device 101 k for use in subsequent steps.

For other exemplary embodiments, both (i) network 103 and device 101could use multiple different shared secret keys K.device 101 k for thesame user name 101 u (such as depicted and described for the first boxin device database 101 d in FIG. 1c above) and (ii) the inclusion of anID.K.device 101 i within a message 205 and 207 could be omitted. Forthese embodiments, then in a step 210 then network 103 could (i) selectan ID.K.device 101 i for use with device 101 using a network database103 d as depicted and described above in connection with FIG. 1c , and(ii) send device 101 the selected ID.K.device 101 i in a subsequentmessage. As one example, the selected ID.K.device 101 i could be sent ina message 218 or 219, such that device 101 could use a receivedID.K.device 101 i to select and use a specific shared secret keyK.device 101 k from a device database 101 d depicted and described inconnection with FIG. 1c in order to conduct an AKA authentication orprotocol 223. In other words, in exemplary embodiments, either a device101 or a network 103 could use an ID.K.device 101 i to select andmutually agree on a shared secret key K.device 101 k for use insubsequent AKA protocol 223 steps.

A step 211 can include verifying that device 101 with the SUPI 101 a isauthorized to connect with MNO 102 and/or network 103. In a step 211, ifdevice 101 is not authorized to connect with MNO 102 and/or network 103,then network 103 could send an error message to network 103 (forforwarding to device 101) and not proceed to the additional stepsdepicted in FIG. 2.

At step 212, network 103 can use the user name 101 u from SUPI 101 a toquery network database 103 d for a specific authentication algorithm 101q for use with device 101 in subsequent messages between network 103 anddevice 101. The authentication algorithm 101 q from a step 212 could bea subset of authentication algorithms 101 q transmitted in a message 202described above. As depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1cabove, a network database 103 d could store supported or preferredauthentication algorithms 101 q for a device 101 using an identity oruser name 101 u. In a step 212, network 103 could use the plaintext username 101 u read from a decryption step 103 j in order to select anauthentication algorithm 101 q for the device 101 based on the identityor user name 101 u. For the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 2,network 103 could use a step 212 to select either (i) an EAP-TLSauthentication step 222 using PKI and certificates such as cert.device101 c, or (ii) an AKA authentication step 222 using authenticationvectors 103 x based on a K.device 101 k for device 101. Otherpossibilities exist as well for different subsequent authenticationsteps or authentication schemes selected in a step 212 based on the SUPI101 a from SUCI 101 b without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user name received in a SUCI 101 b frommessage 207 in the value 204 a could comprise the exemplary value ofuser name 101 u-2 depicted in a network database 103 d in FIG. 1c . Thevalue of user name 101 u-2 could be associated with a physical device #2also as depicted in FIG. 1c . In a step 212, network 103 could use theplaintext user name 101 u-2 to select an authentication algorithm 101 qof “EAP-TLS”. The authentication scheme or protocol 222 for otherdevices 101 and other protocols besides “EAP-TLS” or AKA could beselected in a step 212 as well.

For a first authentication scheme or protocol 222 selected in a step212, network 103 can conduct a step 213 based on the selectedauthentication algorithm 101 q of “EAP-TLS” using the user name 101 u.For some exemplary embodiments, in a step 213, network 103 could queryother servers or select a device certificate cert.device 101 c in orderto conduct a subsequent EAP-TLS authentication with device 101. For someexemplary embodiments, a device certificate cert.device 101 c can bestored in a network database 103 d. Network 103 can then send device 101through MNO 102 a message 214, where the message 214 can comprise anEAP-TLS start command. A message 214 could also include a networkidentity 103 a for device 101 to use when processing and sending asubsequent “Client Hello” request message to initiate the TLS session.The message 214 could also optionally include a TLS version number touse for the authentication protocol 222 comprising EAP-TLS. In exemplaryembodiments, the message 214 for the command for device 101 to initiatean EAP-TLS session can specify parameters 101 f for a post-quantumcryptography key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) as well as a post-quantumcryptography digital signature algorithm, such as those in Phase 2 ofthe MST PQC project.

For a first authentication scheme or protocol 222, device 101 couldreceive the message 214 and process the message 214 in a step 215. Instep 215, device 101 can use cryptographic algorithms 101 x depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1a as well as data from a devicedatabase 101 d in order to process or generate a “Client Hello” messagefor MNO 102 and network 103. The device 101 can use the network identity103 a as a domain name or IP address or other network identifier as adestination of the generated “Client Hello”. Note that the networkidentity 103 a in a message 214 can be different than the networkidentity 103 a transmitted by device 101 in a SUCI 101 b in a message205 above, although the two different network identities 103 a could berelated (such as both network identities 103 a used by a network 103).

In a step 215, device 101 can use the parameters 101 f in order toselect supported cipher suites, TLS extensions, and digital signaturealgorithms for the “Client Hello” message. For example, TLS 1.3 assumesa basic level of common parameters and algorithms supported betweendevices and servers, such that a Client Hello can be properly supportedby a server without requiring additional round-trips of data in order tonegotiate parameters. But, the transition for devices and servers tosupport post-quantum cryptography may result in devices and serversusing different cryptographic parameters and algorithms for a TLSsession, and additional round-trips of packets or data may be requiredto negotiate compatible parameters.

By message 214 including a set of parameters 101 f, which could specifypost-quantum cryptography algorithms and parameters, device 101 coulduse the parameters 101 f in a step 214 to select the cipher suites andalgorithms specified as supported within the subsequent “Client Hello”transmitted from device 101 to network 103. As one example, parameters101 f in a message 214 could specify the use of Dilithium as a digitalsignature algorithm, and device 101 could subsequently include Dilithiumwithin the TLS extensions for signature algorithms in the subsequent“Client Hello” message. In exemplary embodiments, the parameters 101 fwithin a message 214 could specify at least one ofDilithium-1024×768-AES, Dilithium-1280×1024-AES, andDilithium-1536×1280-AES, or the equivalent for a digital signaturealgorithm. The “Client Hello” from device 101 can include one of thespecified digital signature algorithms in the parameters 101 f from amessage 214. As depicted in FIG. 2, the series of steps from a step 213through a 215 can comprise a step 222 for using an EAP-TLSauthentication algorithm, which could be specified for device 101 in anetwork database 103 by an authentication algorithm 101 q value fordevice 101 using the SUPI 101 a.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user name received in a SUCI 101 b frommessage 207 in the value 204 a could comprise the exemplary value ofuser name 101 u-1 and also an identity for a shared secret key ofID.K.device 101 i-1 depicted in a network database 103 d in FIG. 1c .The value of user name 101 u-1 could be associated with a physicaldevice #1 also as depicted in FIG. 1c . In a step 212, network 103 coulduse the plaintext user name 101 u-1 to select an authenticationalgorithm 101 q of “AKA”, which could represent a second authenticationscheme or protocol 223 as depicted in FIG. 2.

For the second authentication scheme or protocol 223 selected in a step212 comprising an AKA authentication, network 103 could conduct a step216. At step 216, the network 103 can generate a random number and thenusing the random number generate an authentication vector 103 x fordevice 101 using the shared secret key K.device 101 k. For embodimentswhere device 101 uses a plurality of shared secret keys K.device 101 k,a step 216 could comprise generating an authentication vector 103 x foreach of the different secret keys K.device 101 k, depicted as auth.vectors 103 x-1, 103 x-2, etc. for a network database 103 d in FIG. 1cabove. Note that a step 216 for each of the possible different secretkeys K.device 101 k could be generated before MNO 102 receives a message205 from device 101. In addition, the step 216 could be conducted beforenetwork 103 sends a selected authentication vector 103 x-1 to MNO 102 ina message 218 below. Each different authentication vector 103 x fordifferent secret keys K.device 101 k for device 101 could use adifferent random number generated by network 103.

For embodiments where device 101 uses a plurality of different keysK.device 101 k for the same device identity or user name 101 u, thendevice 101 could send an identity for the key K.device 101 k comprisingthe identity ID.K.device 101 i in a message 205. For some embodiments,the identity ID.K.device 101 i could be within ciphertext 123 and partof the SUCI 101 b. For other embodiments, the ID.K.device 101 i could beexternal to SUCI 101 b and sent outside or external to the SUCI 101 b ina message 205. In a step 217 a for the embodiments where device 101 usesa plurality of different keys K.device 101 k for the same deviceidentity or user name 101 u, then a network 103 could use theID.K.device 101 i to select the corresponding authentication vector 103x generated in a step 216. As one example, using the data depicted for adatabase in FIG. 1c , the device #1 could send the message 205 with anID.K.device 101 i-2 in the value 204 a.

The network 103 in a step 217 a could use the ID.K.device 101 i-2 andthe network database 103 d to select the corresponding shared secret keyK.device 101 k-2 and the authentication vector 103 x-2. The resultingauthentication vector 103 x-2 for the ID.K.device 101 i-2 and K.device101 k-2 (for device #1) could be sent to MNO 102 in a message 218. Themessage 218 could also include SUCI 101 b so that MNO 102 can trackwhich device 101 is associated with the message 218 (since device 101sent the SUCI 101 b in a message 205). The message 218 can also includethe SUPI 101 a or a plaintext value for the user name 101 u, which couldalso comprise an IMSI or equivalent identifier.

For embodiments where device 101 uses a single K.device 101 k for thesame device identity or user name 101 u, then device 101 couldoptionally omit sending an identity for the key K.device 101 kcomprising the identity ID.K.device 101 i in a message 205. In otherwords, for embodiments where the user name 101 u is uniquely bound to asingle key K.device 101 k, such as with LTE AKA authentication, then theuse of an identity ID.K.device 101 i could be omitted. For theseembodiments, then network could conduct a step 217 b instead of the step217 a in order to select at least the authentication vector 103 xgenerated in step 216. As one example, using the data depicted for adatabase in FIG. 1c , the device #3 could send the message 205 withoutan ID.K.device 101 i-5 in the value 204 a. In a step 217 b, network 103could select the authentication vector 103 x-5 for device #3 using theuser name 101 u from a message 205 (after decryption of the ciphertext123 in a step 103 j to convert SUCI 101 b into SUPI 101 a). Or, for astep 217 b, network 103 could select the authentication vector 103 x-5for device #3 using the SUPI 101 a-3 (after decryption of the ciphertext123 in a step 103 j to convert SUCI 101 b into SUPI 101 a). Theresulting authentication vector 103 x-5 for device #3 using SUPI 101 a-3could be sent to MNO 102 in a message 218.

After step 217 a or step 217 b, MNO 102 could receive the message 218,which could contain both (i) identity information for device 101 and(ii) the selected authentication vector 103 x. The authentication vector103 x can include (i) the random number for the AV 103 x from a step216, an expected response value XRES, an authentication token value AUTNwhich can be used by device 101 with the key K.device 101 k and randomnumber to authenticate the network 103, and values for CK and CIgenerated using the key K.device 101 k. An exemplary authenticationvector 103 x is described in ETSI TS 133 501 v15. The identityinformation could comprise the SUCI 101 b sent in a message 205, so thatMNO 102 could track which device the authentication vector 103 x isassociated with. The identity information in a message 218 could alsoinclude either (i) the SUPI 101 a or (ii) the user name 101 u, such asan IMSI value.

MNO 102 could store the authentication vector 103 x for the device 101and send device 101 a message 219 with at least the random number from astep 216 and the authentication token value from the authenticationvector 103 x. At a step 220 a or 220 b, device 101 could receive themessage 219 and process the message 219 in order to generate a response.In exemplary embodiments where device 101 can use a plurality ofdifferent keys K.device 101 k for a user name 101 u with network 103, ata step 220 a, device can use the shared secret key identity ID.K.device101 i sent in a message 205 to select the corresponding key K.device 101k from a device database 101 d. Note that the shared secret key identityID.K.device 101 i could be sent as ciphertext 123 within a message 205.With the selected K.device 101 k and the random number received inmessage 219, device 101 could process a response value RES. The responsevalue could be calculated as specified in ETSI TS 133 501 v15. With theselected K.device 101 k and the random number received in message 219,device 101 could process an expected AUTN value and verify the receivedAUTN value from a message 219 matches the internally calculated AUTNvalue.

In exemplary embodiments where device 101 can use a single share secretkey K.device 101 k for the user name 101 u with network 103, at a step220 b, device can use the user name 101 u to select or identify the keyK.device 101 k from a device database 101 d for the user name 101 u.With the selected or identified K.device 101 k and the random numberreceived in message 219, device 101 could process a response value RES.The response value could be calculated as specified in ETSI TS 133 501v15. With the selected K.device 101 k and the random number received inmessage 219, device 101 could process an expected AUTN value and verifythe received AUTN value from a message 219 matches the internallycalculated AUTN value. After a step 220 a or 220 b, device 101 couldthen send MNO 102 a message 221 in order to complete authentication withMNO 102. Device 101 and MNO 102 could then take additional steps toderive additional keys for encryption and message authentication asspecified in ETSI TS 133 501 v15. As depicted in FIG. 2, the series ofsteps from a step 216 through a message 221 can comprise a step 223 forusing an AKA authentication algorithm, which could be specified fordevice 101 in a network database 103 by an authentication algorithm 101q value for device 101 using the SUPI 101 a.

FIG. 3

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for a device to (i)store multiple shared secret keys associated with device identity, (ii)select a shared secret key to conduct and AKA protocol, and (iii)encrypt an identity of the selected shared secret key, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments. FIG. 3 can comprise the steps and data usedby a device 101 in a system 200 or system 500 below in order to (i)store a plurality of shared secret keys K.device 101 k with associatedidentities ID.K.device 101 i, (ii) select a shared secret key K.device101 k and identity ID.K.device 101 i, (iii) encrypt the selectedidentity ID.K.device 101 i into a ciphertext, and (iv) transmit theselected ID.K.device 101 i as the ciphertext to a wireless network.After sending the selected ID.K.device 101 i to the wireless network, anetwork 103 and the device 101 can conduct an authentication and keyagreement (AKA) protocol 223 with the network 103 through the wirelessnetwork 102.

At step 203 b, which is depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2above, the device 101 can store in nonvolatile memory 101 m (i) a username/IMSI 101 u, (ii) cryptographic algorithms 101 s, and a networkstatic public key PK-ENC-network 101 e. Also at step 203 b, the device101 can store in nonvolatile memory 101 m (i) a plurality of sharedsecret keys K.device 101 i associated with the user name/IMSI 101 u and(ii) an identity ID.K.device 101 k for each of the shared secret keysK.device 101 k. The step 203 b can be conducted before device 101receives a broadcast message 202 from wireless network 102, such asduring a configuration step for device 101 by a device manufacturer or adevice owner, or a device provider 104.

At step 202′, device 101 can receive a broadcast message 202 from awireless network 102 specifying at least one authentication algorithm101 q. A broadcast message 202 was depicted and describe in connectionwith FIG. 2 above. Note the broadcast message 202 can also include MNOparameters 102 g′, which were also depicted and described in connectionwith FIG. 2 above. The authentication algorithm 101 q, which couldspecify different AKA algorithms such as 5G AKA, 5G AKA′ (e.g. EAP-AKA),or EAP-TLS authentication and other possibilities exist as well. The MNOparameters 102 g′ could specify exemplary values such as a key length inbits for device 101 to use for a key K.device 101 k, secure hashalgorithms for use with asymmetric encryption 101 j′, an identity oralgorithm for network static public key PK-ENC.network 103, and otherpossibilities exist as well without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

At step 301, device 101 can select an authentication algorithm 101 qfrom message 202, using MNO parameters 102 g′. Although step 301 was notdepicted in FIG. 2, a step 301 could be conducted after receipt of amessage 202 and before device 101 sends a message 205 in FIG. 2 or amessage 501 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 5 below.In an exemplary embodiment, authentication algorithms 101 q and MNOparameters 102 g′ in message 202 could specify the network 103associated with wireless network 102 could support both (i) an AKAprotocol 223 using a shared secret key K.device 101 k (according toparameters 102 g′) and (ii) an EAP-TLS protocol 222 using a devicecertificate cert.device 101 c. FIG. 3 can depict device 101 selectingthe AKA protocol 223 in a step 301.

At step 203 c, device 101 can select at least one of the of the (i)secret shared keys K.device 101 k and (ii) identities ID.K.device 101 ifor the selected authentication algorithm 101 q, where the selectedauthentication algorithms 101 q was selected in a step 301 above. A step203 c was depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 above. Notethat in a step 203 c, device 101 could also select multiple keysK.device 101 k and identities ID.K.device 101 i, and the subsequentsteps of encrypting the selected ID.K.device 101 i, such into ciphertext123 or 408 could include the multiple identities ID.K.device 101 i. Anetwork 103 could decrypt the ciphertext 123 or 408 and select one ofthe multiple ID.K.device 101 i and specify at a later step such as inmessage 219 or before message 219 that device 101 use the ID.K.device101 i and associated shared secret key K.device 101 k for an AKA step223.

At step 101 j′ or step 404 a, device 101 can generate a SUCI 101 b using(i) the SUPI 101 a, (ii) the cryptographic algorithms 101 s, and (iii)the network static public key PK-ENC-network 101 e. A step 101 j′ isdepicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 1b above, andcan comprise the device 101 conducting an asymmetric encryption of atleast the user name 101 u or IMSI portion of the SUPI 101 b into aciphertext 123. A step 404 a is depicted and described in connectionwith FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below, and can comprise the device 101 conductinga KEM with the network static public key PK-ENC-network 101 e in orderto derive a shared secret M 401, and then the shared secret M 401 can beused to encrypt the he user name 101 u or IMSI portion of the SUPI 101 binto a ciphertext 406. The selection for the use of a step 101 j′ or 404a can be specified by network 102 or determined by device 101 based onauthentication algorithms 101 x or MNO parameters 102 g′ received in amessage 202.

At step 101 j′ or step 405 b, device 101 can encrypt the selectedID.K.device 101 i using the PK-ENC.network 101 e into a ciphertext 123or 408. A step 101 j′ is depicted and described in connection with FIG.2 and FIG. 1b above, and can comprise the device 101 conducting anasymmetric encryption of at least the selected ID.K.device 101 i from astep 203 c above into the ciphertext 123. A step 405 b is depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below, and can comprisethe device 101 using the shared secret key M 401 from the KEM 101 j″ inorder to encrypt the selected ID.K.device 101 i using the PK-ENC.network101 e into a ciphertext 408. The selection for the use of a step 101 j′or 405 b can be specified by network 102 or determined by device 101based on authentication algorithms 101 x or MNO parameters 102 g′received in a message 202.

At step 205 or 409, device 101 can transmit the SUCI 101 b andciphertext 123 or 408 to the wireless network 102. The step 205 cancomprise sending the message 205 with ciphertext 123 as depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 2 above. Note that the ciphertext 123can include at least both the encrypted user name 101 u or encryptedIMSI and the selected ID.K.device 101 i, which is depicted and describedin connection with FIG. 1b above. In some embodiments, the ciphertext123 could comprise separate portions, such that device 101 firstasymmetrically encrypts the user name 101 u into a first portion ofciphertext 123 and then device 101 asymmetrically encrypts the selectedID.K.device 101 i into a second portion of ciphertext 123 and the twoportions could both be sent separately but together comprise aciphertext 123. The step 409 can comprise the device 101 sending themessage 409 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 4 below.Note that the ciphertext 408 in a message 409 can include the encrypteduser name 101 u or encrypted IMSI. The selection for the use of a step205 or 409 can be specified by network 102 or determined by device 101based on authentication algorithms 101 x or MNO parameters 102 g′received in a message 202.

At step 223′, device 101 can conduct an authentication and key agreement(AKA) protocol 223 using the selected K.device 101 k. The AKA protocol223 for device 101 and network 103 are depicted and described inconnection with FIG. 2 above and FIG. 5 below. Note that the selectedK.device 101 k can be specified by device 101 and determined by network103 using the associated ID.K.device 101 i for the selected K.device 101k that was transmitted to wireless network 102 in either (i) theciphertext 123 from FIG. 2 and FIG. 1c , or (ii) the ciphertext 408 fromFIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below. In other words, a specific K.device 101 k fordevice 101 to use with an AKA protocol 223 can be determined by network103 and device 101 based on the associated ID.K.device 101 i transmittedin either ciphertext 123 from FIG. 2 and FIG. 1c or ciphertext 408 fromFIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below.

FIG. 4

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps using PKI keys,parameters, and data input for (i) a device to encrypt a ciphertext withthe device identity and (ii) a network to decrypt the ciphertext, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. FIG. 4 depicts exemplary stepsfor a device to generate or encrypt a random number comprising a key Musing key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) and for a network to decryptciphertext 403 in order to read or derive the key M. Key M can comprisea shared secret key for both the device 101 and network 103 to processsymmetric ciphering algorithms. The key M can be used with a symmetricciphering algorithm 404 such as AES in order to convert the SUPI 101 ainto a SUPI 101 b. The key M can be used with a symmetric cipheringalgorithm 405 in order to covert a plaintext 406 into a ciphertext 408(at the device 101) and convert the ciphertext 408 into a plaintext 406at network 103.

In some exemplary embodiments, the use of a TRE 113 and PP 109 could beomitted, and the generation of a ciphertext 403 by device 101 could beperformed or conducted within a processor 101 p. The asymmetricencryption step or function 101 j is also depicted as KEM Algorithm 101j″ in FIG. 4. The step 101 j″ could comprise public key encryption usinga post-quantum cryptographic algorithm. Note that the public keyencryption in FIG. 4 may use the full key exchange mechanism specifiedby the PQC protocols, such as the agreement of a random shared secret Mwith a value with 256 bits in length. The following example within FIG.4 will follow the steps for the Kyber algorithm within the PQ-Crystalsproject and proposal submitted to NIST, but other and differentcryptographic algorithms could be utilized as well. In exemplaryembodiments, the PQC KEM algorithm 101 j″ depicted in FIG. 4 anddescribed below could comprise the “Classic McEliece” algorithmsubmitted for the MST PQC standardization project, including the ClassicMcEliece algorithm with parameters such as, but not limited to,mceliece460896, mceliece6688128f, and mceliece6960119.

In an exemplary embodiment, the PQC PKI encryption step 101 j couldfollow the encryption steps specified by the Kyber algorithm. In thepaper “CRYSTALS—Kyber: a CCA-secure module-lattice-based KEM” (referredto herein as Kyber paper), the message “m” can be the key M 401 which is256 bits in length for this embodiment. The step 101 j″ depicted in FIG.4 can comprise the function/step of “Kyber.Encaps” with the public keyPK.ENC.network 101 e, which is also depicted as “KEM Algorithm”. Theparameters of ENC.parameters 101 j could be a row from Table 1 of theKyber paper such as Kyber768. The output of step 101 j″ and“Kyber.Encaps” can be the value “c” in the Kyber paper or ciphertext 403in FIG. 4. The length of “c” and ciphertext 403 can be an exemplary 1152bytes. Note that the function Kyber.Encaps may be used in exemplaryembodiments for asymmetric encryption of the key M 401. Thus, inexemplary embodiments, encryption step 101 j and 101 j″ can use theCCA-secure KEM portion of PQC algorithms.

Device 101 can include a tamper resistant element 113 with a primaryplatform 109, where the primary platform 109 generates a random numberwhich can comprise key M 401. The key M can be input into a post-quantumcryptography KEM 101 j″ such as Kyber with the PK-ENC.network 101 e inorder to generate ciphertext 403. Although FIG. 4 depicts the KEM usedby both device 101 and network 103 as Kyber, another KEM supportingpost-quantum cryptography could be used as well, such as any of the KEMidentified in Round 2 of the MST PQC standardization project. Device 101can send network 103 via MNO 102 the ciphertext 403 via a message 402(which could be a message equivalent to message 205 in FIG. 2). Inexemplary embodiments, the asymmetric ciphertext 403 can include the keyM 401. Message 402 can also include a value identifying or specifyingthe use of encryption parameters 101 f used to process the message 402and ciphertext 403.

A network 103 with the network identity 103 a could use a server 111 toreceive the message 402 with asymmetric ciphertext 403 and a valuespecifying parameters 101 f from a wireless network 102. The network 103could operate a Unified Data Management (UDM) to record PKI keys andprocess the received message 403. A UDM for network 103 was alsodepicted and described above in connection with FIG. 1a and also FIG. 1b. The network 103 can operate or process a PQC PKI Decryption function103 j (depicted in FIG. 4 as KEM Algorithm 103 j″) which can convert theasymmetric ciphertext 403 portion of message 402 into a key M 401 viathe KEM. The network could also use the parameters 101 f to conduct thePQC PKI Decryption function 103 j in a manner compatible with device 101and supporting the use of SK-ENC.network 103 b.

The network 103 can input the asymmetric ciphertext 403 into thedecryption step 103 j″ in order to convert the ciphertext to the key M401 and complete the KEM in order to generate a key K for subsequentinput into a HDKF 401 a. For embodiments that use the PC-Crystalsalgorithms and Kyber, then the decryption step 103 j″ can comprise thestep “Kyber.Decaps” from the Kyber paper, which is also depicted as “KEMAlgorithm”. Decryption step 103 j″ can use the network static secret keySK.ENC.network 103 b to determine a key M 401 with extremely highprobability (with errors changes much less than one in a billion). Inother words, although a successful decryption step 103 j″ can failoccasionally, the failure can be rare enough not to have a practical ormeaningful affect. After successful decryption of asymmetric ciphertext403 and processing of the plaintext in order to derive or determine thekey M 401 via the KEM mechanism, the network 103 can use the sharesecret key M 401 to generate a key K for subsequent processing andgeneration of an encryption key and a MAC key for decryption steps andverification of MAC codes.

Both network 103 and device 101 can use a PQC KEM function that both (i)converts the ciphertext 403 into the message or key M 401 and (ii) usesa hash-based KDF in order to generate an encryption key and also amessage authentication code (MAC) key from the message of key M 401. Thehash-based KDF used by both the network 103 and device 101 is depictedin FIG. 4 as a key derivation function 401 a. Although the keyderivation function 401 a is depicted as external to the KEM encapsfunction 101 j″ and the KEM decaps function 103 j″, in exemplaryembodiments a key derivation function can be included within the KEMencaps function 101 j″ and the KEM decaps function 103 j″ in order tooutput a pseudo-random key K instead of the key M. In other words,although the output of a random message or key M 401 is depicted asoutput or external to KEM decaps function 103 j″ in FIG. 4, in exemplaryembodiments the random message of key M 401 is not directly output fromthe KEM decaps function 103 j″, but rather the key M 401 is determinedby the KEM decaps function 103 j″ and then the key M is converted into asingle key K. Likewise, the KEM encaps function 101 j″ can generate oroutput a single key K instead of the random message or key M 401. Thedepicted separate and second hash-based key derivation function 401 acan accept input of the key K output by both KEM encaps function 101 j″and the KEM decaps function 103 j″ in order to generate the encryptionkey and also a message authentication code (MAC) key from the message ofkey M 401.

In other words, random data for M 401 can be input into KEM encapsfunction 101 j″ in order to generate and output a key K (which cancomprise the depicted output being input into KDF 401 a in FIG. 4 fordevice 101). The KDF 401 a can generate an encryption key and messageauthentication code (MAC) key for use with symmetric encryption.Likewise, the random data for M 401 determined by the KEM decapsfunction 103 j″ from the ciphertext 403 can be used to generate the samekey K, where the key K is depicted for a network 103 in FIG. 4. The keyK can be input into key derivation function 401 a in order to derive thesame encryption key and message authentication code (MAC) key as derivedby the device 101. Network 103 can input the encryption key and MAC keygenerated from the KDF 401 a into symmetric decryption functions asdepicted in FIG. 4.

After generation of an encryption key and MAC key by device 101 from theoutput of a key derivation function 401 a, the keys can be input into asymmetric ciphering algorithm 404 a for encryption in order to convertthe user name 101 u portion of a SUPI 101 a into a symmetric ciphertext406. Symmetric ciphering algorithm 404 a and 405 a below can include theuse or an initialization vector (IV), which could comprise a randomnumber. The initialization vector could be sent as plaintext or metadataalong with the ciphertext, and in this manner the ciphertext couldchange over time (and with each SUCI 101 b), which is preferred sincethe encrypted SUPI 101 a could remain the same, but the ciphertext 406(or 408 below) should change even though the plaintext data transmittedmay be static. This avoids a third party seeing the ciphertext 406 or408 from being able to track the sender. The ciphertext 406 can includeMAC codes generated using the MAC key for message authentication. Thedevice 101 can append the network identity 101 a as plaintext for arealm portion of a NAI value, and the combination of ciphertext 406 andthe realm can comprise the SUCI 101 b. Device 101 can send the network103 via MNO 102 the SUCI 101 b.

The network 103 can receive the SUCI 101 b. Network 103 can use the keyM 401 and the key derivation function 401 a such as the hash-based KDFin order to generate the encryption key and also the messageauthentication code (MAC) key. The keys can be input into a symmetricciphering algorithm 404 b for decryption in order to convert ciphertext406 portion of the SUCI 101 b into a plaintext user name 101 u. Thenetwork 103 could use the MAC key from a HKDF 401 a in order to verifymessage integrity for the ciphertext 406. The output of a symmetricciphering algorithm 404 b for decryption can be the SUPI 101 a fordevice 101.

Device 101 can also record plaintext data 407 for network 103 inaddition to the SUCI 101 b. In exemplary embodiments, the plaintext data407 can comprise an identity of a shared secret key ID.K.device 101 i ora certificate of device 101 cert.device 101 c. The use of an identity ofa shared secret key ID.K.device 101 i can be associated with the use ofa step 223 in FIG. 2 for AKA security, and the use of a certificate ofdevice 101 cert.device 101 c can be associated with the use of a step222 in FIG. 2 for EAP-TLS security. Additional data could be in theplaintext data 407 as well, such as, but not limited to, cryptographicalgorithms 101 s supported by device 101, cryptographic parameters 101 xsupported by device 101, information for device provider 104 associatedwith device 101, operating system or firmware parameters for device 101,an identity and/or firmware version for TRE/PP 109, a random number 101n, and other possibilities exist as well without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Device 101 can use (i) the encryption key and also the messageauthentication code (MAC) key generated by the HKDF 401 a with (ii) asymmetric ciphering algorithm 405 b for encryption in order to convertthe plaintext data 407 into a ciphertext 408. Device 101 can sendnetwork 103 a message 409 with the ciphertext 408 to network 103 via MNO102. The message 409 can also include symmetric ciphering parameters 410associated with symmetric ciphering algorithms 405 a and 405 b. Or, thesymmetric ciphering parameters 410 could be specified in MNO parameters102 g and can be omitted from the message 409. Note that in someexemplary embodiments, the use of an identity for a shared secret key ofID.K.device 101 i could be omitted from plaintext data 407, such as ifnetwork 103 selects the use of an EAP-TLS authentication and protocol222 as depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 above.

Network 103 can receive the message 409 with the ciphertext 408 andsymmetric ciphering parameters 410. Network 103 can use (i) theencryption key and also the message authentication code (MAC) keygenerated from the secret shared key M 401 and the HKDF 401 a and (ii)the symmetric ciphering algorithm 405 b for decryption, and (ii)symmetric ciphering parameters 410 in order to convert the ciphertext408 into a plaintext data 407. Network 103 can read the plaintext valuesfrom data 407 and read (i) a shared secret key identity ID.K.device foruse with a step 223 depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2above, or (ii) a device certificate of cert.device 101 c in order toconduct a step 223.

Note that network 103 can also conduct a certificate verification stepon the device certificate cert.device 101 c after the decryption step405 b. Network 103 could verify a digital signature in cert.device 101 cfrom a certificate issuer in order to trust the device certificate. Uponverification of the device certificate cert.device 101 c, network 103could conduct the steps 223 for EAP-TLS authentication as depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. As mentioned above, theplaintext data 407 could include other data such as cryptographicalgorithms 101 s, cryptographic parameters 101 x, firmware or OS versionnumbers for device 101, and other values are possible as well. After adecryption step 405 b, network 103 could check the plaintext data 407 issupported by network 103 and other processing steps on the plaintextdata 407 is possible as well.

FIG. 5

FIG. 5 is a simplified message flow diagram illustrating an exemplarysystem with exemplary data sent and received by a device, a mobilenetwork operator, and a network, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. System 500 can include a device 101, a mobile networkoperator (MNO) 102, and a network 103. The nodes or entities withinsystem 500 were also depicted and described in connection with FIG. 1aand FIG. 2 above, where FIG. 5 depicts exemplary steps for the nodes andexemplary message flows between the nodes using the steps depicted inFIG. 4. Although a single device 101, MNO 102, and network 103 aredepicted in a system 500, a system 600 could include a plurality of eachof the depicted nodes connected via an IP network 107. In addition, datarecorded for device 101 and network 103 depicted and described above inFIG. 1a can be recorded in the device 101 and network 103 depicted inFIG. 5 before the steps and message flows are conducted in FIG. 5.

The subsequent description of steps and messages will focus ondifferences from FIG. 2, where some additional or different steps can beconducted in a system 500 compared to the system 200 in FIG. 2. Insummary, a system 500 can use the post quantum cryptography KEM in orderfor the device 101 and network 103 to share a secret key M 401 and thenuse the shared secret key M 401 for encryption and decryption. As in asystem 200, in order to support authentication of devices 101 withnetwork 103, a MNO 102 could establish a secure session 201 with network103.

Device 101 could conduct step 203 a for manufacturing and configurationas described in FIG. 2. Device 101 could conduct step 203 b for poweringon, loading firmware and begin operating as described in FIG. 2. MNO 102can send a broadcast message 202 as described in FIG. 2. Device 101 canconduct the steps 203 b, 203 c, and 204 as described in FIG. 2. Device101 can then derive a random number comprising the key M 401 as depictedand described in connection with FIG. 4 above. Device 101 can thenconduct a KEM 101 j″ using the PK-ENC.network 101 e as depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 4 above. Device 101 can then generatean asymmetric ciphertext 403 which can be used by network 103 with thesecret key SK-ENC.network 103 b in order for the network to securelyprocess the same key M 401 as device 101. Device 101 can use a symmetricciphering algorithm 404 a with a HKDF 401 a of the key M 401 (or a key Kgenerated by the KEM using the key M 401) in order to generate a SUCI101 b, where the SUCI 101 b include a ciphertext 406 of the user name101 u. Device 101 can use a symmetric ciphering algorithm 405 a with theHKDF 401 a of the key M 401 (or key K generated by the KEM using key M401) in order to generate a ciphertext 408. The plaintext 407 for aciphertext 408 was depicted and described in connection with FIG. 4.

Device 101 can then send MNO 102 a message 501, where the message 501can include the ciphertext 403 for the key M 401, a value specifying theuse of encryption parameters 101 f, a value 204 a comprising the SUCI101 b, where the SUCI 101 b includes a ciphertext 406 of the user name101 u, a ciphertext 408 of the plaintext 407 (such as, but not limitedto, an ID.K.device 101 i or a device certificate cert.device 101 c), andsymmetric encryption parameters 410. MNO 102 can conduct a step 206 inorder to forward data from the message 501 to network 103. A step 206for MNO 102 was depicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 above.

MNO 102 can send network 103 a message 502, where the message 502 caninclude data from the message 501. Network 103 can receive the message502 comprising ciphertext 403 for the key M 401, a value specifying theuse of encryption parameters 101 f, a value 204 a comprising the SUCI101 b, where the SUCI 101 b includes a ciphertext 406 of the user name101 u, a ciphertext 408 of the plaintext 407 (such as, but not limitedto, an ID.K.device 101 i or a device certificate cert.device 101 c), andsymmetric encryption parameters 410. Network 103 can then conduct stepsto process the message 502.

At step 208, the AUSF 103 b can read and process the plaintext data inthe realm for SUCI 101 b in value 204 a. As depicted in FIG. 2, for someexemplary embodiments the realm for SUCI 101 b in a value 204 a cancomprise the network ID 103 a. A step 208 can include AUSF 103 b storingSUCI 101 b in a network database 103 d for subsequent use in identifyingdevice 101.

Network 103 can then conduct a series of steps in order to process themessage 207. At step 209, network 103 can read the plaintext network ID103 a in SUCI 101 b and use network database 103 d in order to select(i) secret key SK-ENC.network 103 b and (ii) any associated parametersfor ENC parameters 101 f that may be needed for an asymmetric decryptionfunction 103 j. A network 103 can also read the received parameters 101f from a message 207 in a step 209. For some embodiments, a networkidentity 103 a can be uniquely associated with secret key SK-ENC.network103 b and (ii) ENC Parameters 101 f. Or, in some embodiments, theparameters 101 f from messages 205 and 207 can include a value oridentity for a PK-ENC.Network 101 e stored by device 101, and in a step209 network 103 can use a network database 103 d as depicted in FIG. 1cto select the SK-ENC.network 103 b.

At step 103 j″, network 103 can conduct the KEM function to process theasymmetric ciphertext 403 with the selected SK-ENC.network 103 b inorder to read or process the plaintext key M 401. Part of the KEM decapsfunction 103 j can be generating a key K from the plaintext key M 401. AKEM step 103 j″ was depicted and described in connection with FIG. 4above. Network 103 can use a symmetric ciphering algorithm 404 b fordecryption with a HKDF 401 a of the key M 401 (or key K output from theKEM decaps function 103 j) in order to decrypt the SUCI 101 b into aSUPI 101 a, where the SUCI 101 b include a symmetric ciphertext 406 ofthe user name 101 u. The SUPI 101 a from a step 404 b can comprise theplaintext user name 101 u. Network 103 can use a symmetric cipheringalgorithm 405 b with the HKDF 401 a of the key M 401 (or key K from theKEM 103 j″) in order to convert ciphertext 408 into plaintext 407. Theplaintext 407 for a ciphertext 408 was depicted and described inconnection with FIG. 4.

Note that for some exemplary embodiments, all of PK-ENC.network 103 b,SK-ENC.network 103 b, ENC parameters 101 f could specify the use ofelliptic curve cryptography (ECC) algorithms and be compatible witheither (i) the elliptic curve integrated encryption scheme (ECIES) ascurrently specified in ETSI TS 133 501 v15, or (ii) a key exchangealgorithm based on Supersingular Elliptic Curve Isogeny, which is alsoreferred to as “SIKE” in the NIST PQC project.

For the embodiments with ECIES, then the KEM step 103 j″ could bereplaced with an elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchangealgorithm, such that device 101 (i) derives a device ephemeral ellipticcurve public and private key according the parameters 101 f, and (ii)sends the device ephemeral public key with a message 501 and network 103receives the device ephemeral public key with a message 502. For theembodiments with SIKE, then the KEM step 103 j″ could be replaced with akey exchange algorithm, which could be a Supersingular Elliptic CurveIsogeny based algorithm with the same steps (i) and (ii) in the previoussentence.

For either ECDH or SIKE, network 103 can determine a shared secret usingthe device ephemeral public key and the network static private keySK-ENC.network 103 b, where the shared secret can be equivalent to key M401 in FIG. 4. Device 101 can determine the shared secret using thedevice ephemeral private key and the network static public keyPK-ENC.network 103 b. The device can encrypt the ciphertext 406 and 408using the shared secret key M 401 from the ECDH or SIKE and optionallythe output of a HKDF 401 a (in FIG. 4 above) over the key M 401. Thenetwork can decrypt the ciphertext 406 and 408 using the shared secretkey M 401 from the ECDH or SIKE and optionally the output of the of aHKDF 401 a. In this manner, these embodiments of the present inventionwhich use either (i) the traditional ECIES specified in current 5Gstandards or (ii) SIKE with ECC public and private key pairs can alsosupport features of the present disclosure. As one example, theciphertext 408 (which can be encrypted and decrypted using ECDH or SIKE)can include an identity for a shared secret key K.device 101 k ofID.K.device 101 i. Or, the ciphertext 408 could include a certificate ofthe device comprising cert.device 101 c.

Network 103 can then conduct a step 210 if an AKA authenticationalgorithm 101 q is selected for device 101 from a network database 103d. For a step 210 in a system 500, the ID.K.device 101 i can be readfrom plaintext 407 decrypted from ciphertext 408. The step 210 wasdepicted and described above in connection with FIG. 2. Or, if anEAP-TLS authentication is selected from a network database 103 d, thenNetwork 103 can conduct a step 503. The step 503 can comprise reading adevice certificate of cert.device 101 c from the plaintext 407 generatedby step 405 b. A step 503 can also comprise network 103 verifying thedevice certificate 101 c. A step 503 can also comprise network 103processing data in plaintext 407 from ciphertext 408 in order to conductsubsequent communication and authentication with device 101. Theplaintext 407 can include values specifying cryptographic algorithms 101s used by device 101, and network 103 could use the cryptographicalgorithms 101 s for processing data in subsequent communications withdevice 101.

Network 103 can then conduct step 211. A step 211 can include verifyingthat device 101 with the SUPI 101 a is authorized to connect with MNO102 and/or network 103. At step 212, network 103 can use the user name101 u from SUPI 101 a to query network database 103 d for a specificauthentication algorithm 101 q for use with device 101 in subsequentmessages between network 103 and device 101. Steps 211 and 212 aredepicted and described in connection with FIG. 2 above. Network 103 anddevice 101 can then conduct either steps 222 for EAP-TLS authenticationor steps 223 for AKA authentication. The steps 222 for EAP-TLSauthentication and 223 for AKA authentication were depicted anddescribed in connection with FIG. 2 above. A different authenticationand security scheme besides 222 for EAP-TLS and 223 for AKA could beselected in a step 212 in FIG. 5 and FIG. 2, without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. In summary, in a step 212, a networkcan select and begin the process and subsequent steps to authenticate adevice and encrypt data using the encrypted data received with a SUCI101 b. The SUCI 101 b can be processed using PQC algorithms instead ofclassical ECC algorithms as described herein

CONCLUSION

Various exemplary embodiments have been described above. Those skilledin the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications maybe made to those examples without departing from the scope of theclaims.

1. A method for a device to securely authenticate with a wirelessnetwork, the method performed by the device, the method comprising: a)storing in nonvolatile memory a user name, cryptographic algorithms, anetwork static public key, a plurality of shared secret keys for theuser name, and an identity for each of the shared secret keys; b)receiving a broadcast message from the wireless network specifyingsupported parameters for the cryptographic algorithms; c) selecting ashared secret key and an identity of the shared secret key using adevice database and the parameters; d) generating an asymmetricciphertext and a key K using a key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) withthe network static public key and the parameters; e) generating asymmetric ciphering key from the key K; f) generating a symmetricciphertext of (i) a subscriber concealed identifier (SUCI) for the username, and (ii) the selected identity of the shared secret key, whereinthe symmetric ciphertext is generated using the symmetric ciphering key;g) transmitting the asymmetric ciphertext and the symmetric ciphertextto the wireless network; and h) conducting an authentication and keyagreement (AKA) with the wireless network using the selected sharedsecret key for the identity of the shared secret key.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the parameters include a Classic McEliece algorithm,and wherein the KEM uses the Classic McEliece algorithm.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein the network static public key comprises a public keyfor the Classic McEliece algorithm.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe identity of the shared secret key comprises a secure hash value overthe shared secret key.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plaintext forthe symmetric ciphertext of the subscriber concealed identifier (SUCI)comprises a subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI).
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the shared secret key comprises a pre-shared secret keystored before the device communicates with the wireless network.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the user name comprises an internationalmobile subscriber identifier (IMSI).
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe parameters include a Kyber algorithm, and wherein the KEM uses theKyber algorithm.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the network staticpublic key comprises a public key for the Kyber algorithm.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the device database comprises protectedmemory within a tamper resistant element for the device.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein the device database stores the plurality of sharedsecret keys for each of a plurality of mobile network operators.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the device uses a radio to transmit theasymmetric ciphertext and the symmetric ciphertext to a security anchorfunction (SEAF) of the wireless network.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein the device conducts the AKA by (i) receiving a random numberfrom the wireless network and (ii) transmitting a response valuegenerated using the selected shared secret key and the random number.14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network (i) mutuallyderives the key K using the KEM and the asymmetric ciphertext, and (ii)mutually derives the symmetric ciphering key using the key K.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the wireless network decrypts the symmetricciphertext using the symmetric key, and wherein the wireless networkselects an authentication vector for the AKA using the user name and theidentity of the shared secret key.